任 rèn — bear; appoint · English

任

rèn

bear; appoint

At a glance · 任

Listen

Audio is synthesized in your browser: Mandarin for the character and Shuowen text, native voices for every translation. No downloads.

Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从人，壬声，本义为负担、担当，引申为任用、任凭。形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

本义为负荷，引申为担任、信任。

Structure

形声字，从人（意符），壬（rén）为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinrèn

Radical亻

Strokes6

UnicodeU+4EFB

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English bear; appoint To bear or appoint; also to trust.

Français porter; nommer Porter ou nommer ; aussi confier.

Español llevar; nombrar Llevar o nombrar ; también confiar.

العربية يحمل؛ يعيّن يحمل أو يعيّن؛ ويُستعار لـ«يثق».

Русский нести; назначать Нести или назначать; также доверять.

Common words

任务rèn wùtask
任rènsurname

◉ Listen