留任 (liú rèn) — to retain a post, to remain in office | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

To keep the same official position, typically across a term change or reorganization. Often contrasts with 就任 ('to assume a post') — 留任 means staying on, not taking over.

verb

to retain a postto remain in office

Examples

留任。
Tā zài gōng sī gǎi zǔ hòu liú rèn le yuán lái de zhí wù.
He retained his original post after the company restructuring.
留任。
Zhè wèi xiào zhǎng yǐ jīng liú rèn liǎng jiè le.
This principal has remained in office for two terms.
，留任。
Jǐn guǎn miàn lín yā lì, tā réng rán jué dìng liú rèn.
Despite facing pressure, he still decided to remain in office.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

留 expresses keeping or staying, and 任 is the post kept.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

卯

卯mǎo留liú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

留 combines 田 (field) with 卯, which gives the sound.

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.

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