继任 (jì rèn) — to succeed (someone in a position or role)

Definition

继任 means to take over someone's position, usually a formal role (manager, director, leader). The action itself is 继任; the person is the 继任者.

verb

to succeed (someone in a position or role)

Examples

继任。
Tā jì rèn le dǒng shì zhǎng de zhí wù.
He succeeded to the position of chairman.
继任。
Zhè wèi xīn jīng lǐ xià ge yuè jì rèn.
This new manager will take over next month.
继任？
Shuí jiāng jì rèn tā de zhí wèi?
Who will succeed him in his post?

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

继jìcontinue

任rènpost

继 “continue” and 任 “post” combine to mean take up a position after someone.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 繼; 继 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìrope

Sound part声符shēngfú

㡭

㡭㡭繼jì

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

The traditional form 繼 pairs 糸 (rope) with 㡭 as a sound part; an older form may have shown four silk strands. The simplified 继 is only a later shorthand.

Open 继 →

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.

Open 任 →

Appears in