任务 (rèn wu) — task; assignment; mission; duty | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A concrete task or assignment you're given to do (at work, in school, etc.). Heavier than 作业 (school homework); for duties and long-term roles see 责任 and 职责.

noun

taskassignmentmissionduty

Measure word · 项, 个

Examples

任务。
Wǒ jīn tiān de rèn wu shì qù chāo shì mǎi dōng xī.
My task today is to go to the supermarket to buy some things.
任务。
Lǎo shī gěi wǒ men ān pái le hěn duō rèn wu.
The teacher assigned us many tasks.
任务。
Zhè shì yí xiàng fēi cháng zhòng yào de rèn wu.
This is a very important task.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

务wùaffair

任 means duty and 务 means affair, so together they name something one must do.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

亻壬任

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

壬

壬rén任rèn

Same sound today

任 pairs 亻, a person, with 壬, which may picture a shoulder pole turned sideways.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 務; 务 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

力力lìstrength

Sound part声符shēngfú

敄

敄wù務wù

Same sound today

In the traditional form 務, 力 shows the sense of strength or effort, while 敄 gives the sound. The simplified 务 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 4 HSK 2.0 Level 4 1000 Most Frequent Chinese Words Abstract Concepts Workplace & Office 2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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