rènmìng: 任命 - To Appoint, To Assign

• Keywords: renming, 任命, appoint in Chinese, assign in Chinese, how to say appoint in Mandarin, Chinese verb for appoint, official appointment, formal assignment, 任命 vs 派, corporate appointment in China.
• Summary: Learn the meaning and usage of 任命 (rènmìng), the formal Chinese verb for “to appoint” or “to assign.” This page explains how 任命 is used in official government, corporate, and organizational contexts to confer a position of authority. Discover its cultural significance related to hierarchy and formality, see practical example sentences, and understand the crucial differences between 任命, 派 (pài), and 安排 (ānpái) to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): rènmìng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To formally appoint or assign someone to an official post or position of authority.
• In a Nutshell: 任命 (rènmìng) is a strong, formal, and official word. It's not for casual tasks. Think of a president appointing a new ambassador or a board of directors appointing a new CEO. The action is top-down, carries significant weight, and officially grants someone a title and responsibilities.

• 任 (rèn): This character means “to assign a duty,” “to appoint,” or “responsibility.” The person radical (人) on the left suggests it's about a person's role or station. It’s the same character in `责任 (zérèn)`, meaning “responsibility.”
• 命 (mìng): This character means “an order,” “a command,” or “fate.” The mouth radical (口) at the bottom hints at a command being spoken. It’s the same character in `命令 (mìnglìng)`, which means “a command” or “an order.”

When combined, 任命 (rènmìng) literally means “to assign a duty by command.” This combination creates a powerful verb that emphasizes the official and authoritative nature of the appointment.

• Hierarchy and Formality: The existence and common use of 任命 highlight the importance of clear hierarchy and formal procedure in Chinese society, particularly in government and business. An appointment isn't just a decision; it's a formal act that is often announced publicly to legitimize the new power structure. This act reinforces the authority of the entity making the appointment and clarifies the new role of the person being appointed.
• Comparison to Western Culture: In American or Western business culture, while the word “appoint” exists, the process can sometimes be framed more collaboratively. A manager might say, “We've all decided that Dave will lead the next project.” In China, the announcement is more likely to be a direct, top-down declaration: “The company has appointed (任命) Dave as the project manager.” This reflects a cultural value placed on clear, undisputed lines of authority and responsibility. The act of 任命 is less about consensus and more about the official exercise of power from a higher level.

任命 is used almost exclusively in formal settings. You will encounter it most frequently in the following contexts:

• Government and Politics: This is the most common usage. News reports constantly use 任命 to describe presidents, premiers, and committees appointing officials like ministers, governors, and ambassadors.
• Corporations and Organizations: Used for high-level positions. A company's board of directors (董事会 - dǒngshìhuì) will 任命 a new CEO. A department head might be formally appointed in a company-wide memo.
• Formal Announcements: The word is a staple of official documents, written announcements, and news broadcasts. You would rarely use it in casual, everyday conversation. For example, you would not 任命 your friend to be in charge of buying movie tickets.

The connotation is neutral to positive. Being the subject of an 任命 is a significant event that confers status and responsibility.

• Example 1:
• 董事会任命了一位新的首席执行官。
• Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì rènmìngle yī wèi xīn de shǒuxí zhíxíngguān.
• English: The board of directors appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
• Analysis: This is a classic example of 任命 in a corporate context. It's a formal, high-level decision made by an authoritative body.
• Example 2:
• 他被任命为中国驻美国大使。
• Pinyin: Tā bèi rènmìng wéi Zhōngguó zhù Měiguó dàshǐ.
• English: He was appointed as the Chinese ambassador to the United States.
• Analysis: The passive structure `被 (bèi)` is very common with 任命, as the focus is often on the person receiving the appointment.
• Example 3:
• 政府刚刚发布了对几位部长的任命。
• Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ gānggāng fābùle duì jǐ wèi bùzhǎng de rènmìng.
• English: The government just announced the appointments of several ministers.
• Analysis: Here, 任命 is used as a noun, meaning “an appointment” or “the act of appointing.” The structure `对…的任命` means “the appointment of…”.
• Example 4:
• 公司决定任命她为市场部经理。
• Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng rènmìng tā wéi shìchǎngbù jīnglǐ.
• English: The company decided to appoint her as the marketing department manager.
• Analysis: The structure `任命 + [Person] + 为 + [Position]` is a standard pattern, meaning “to appoint [Person] as [Position].”
• Example 5:
• 联合国秘书长任命了一名新的特使。
• Pinyin: Liánhéguó mìshūzhǎng rènmìngle yī míng xīn de tèshǐ.
• English: The UN Secretary-General appointed a new special envoy.
• Analysis: This shows the term's use in an international, formal context.
• Example 6:
• 你收到了任命通知书了吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ shōudàole rènmìng tōngzhīshū le ma?
• English: Have you received the official letter of appointment?
• Analysis: This demonstrates a practical question related to the appointment process. `任命书` or `任命通知书` is the official document.
• Example 7:
• 这次任命出乎了很多人的意料。
• Pinyin: Zhè cì rènmìng chūhūle hěnduō rén de yìliào.
• English: This appointment was beyond many people's expectations.
• Analysis: Again, 任命 functions as a noun (“appointment”) and is the subject of the sentence.
• Example 8:
• 总统有权任命最高法院的法官。
• Pinyin: Zǒngtǒng yǒu quán rènmìng zuìgāo fǎyuàn de fǎguān.
• English: The president has the authority to appoint Supreme Court judges.
• Analysis: `有权 (yǒu quán)` means “to have the right/authority to,” which pairs naturally with the formal action of 任命.
• Example 9:
• 他的任命将在下个月生效。
• Pinyin: Tā de rènmìng jiāng zài xià ge yuè shēngxiào.
• English: His appointment will take effect next month.
• Analysis: Another noun usage. `生效 (shēngxiào)` means “to take effect” or “to become effective,” a common collocation with formal appointments.
• Example 10:
• 谁将被任命来领导这个项目？
• Pinyin: Shéi jiāng bèi rènmìng lái lǐngdǎo zhège xiàngmù?
• English: Who will be appointed to lead this project?
• Analysis: A question using the passive future tense (`将 + 被`), common in formal discussions about upcoming leadership changes.

The most common mistake for learners is using 任命 for informal assignments. The English word “assign” is much broader than 任命.

• `任命 (rènmìng)` vs. `派 (pài)` vs. `安排 (ānpái)`
• 任命 (rènmìng): For a formal position/post. It bestows a title and long-term authority.
  • Correct: 公司任命他为新经理。(The company appointed him as the new manager.)
• 派 (pài): To dispatch or send someone for a specific task or mission. It's about assigning a job, not a permanent title.
  • Correct: 公司派他去北京出差。(The company sent him to Beijing on a business trip.)
  • Incorrect: 公司任命他去北京出差。(Incorrect because a business trip is a task, not a formal post.)
• 安排 (ānpái): To arrange. This is the most general and informal of the three. It's used for logistics, scheduling, or assigning simple, everyday tasks.
  • Correct: 老师安排了今天的作业。(The teacher assigned today's homework.)
  • Incorrect: 老师任命了今天的作业。(Grossly incorrect. You cannot “appoint” homework.)
  • Example of Misuse: If you want to ask your roommate to clean the bathroom, you would say: 我可以安排你打扫一下洗手间吗？ (Can I arrange for you to clean the bathroom?) or more naturally, 你能打扫一下吗？(Can you clean it?). You would never say: 我任命你打扫洗手间。(I appoint you to clean the bathroom.) This would sound absurd and arrogant.

• 委任 (wěirèn) - To appoint or delegate. Very similar to 任命, sometimes implying the act of entrusting someone with a duty.
• 指派 (zhǐpài) - To designate or assign. More focused on assigning a person to a specific task, often less formal than 任命.
• 提名 (tímíng) - To nominate. The step that often comes before a formal 任命.
• 免职 (miǎnzhí) - To dismiss from a post. The direct antonym of 任命.
• 升职 (shēngzhí) - To get a promotion. A promotion is often formalized through an official 任命.
• 任命书 (rènmìngshū) - Letter of appointment. The official document confirming the appointment.
• 授权 (shòuquán) - To authorize or empower. An appointment usually includes an act of 授权.
• 命令 (mìnglìng) - An order or command. The root concept behind the `命` character in 任命.
• 委派 (wěipài) - To delegate or appoint. Similar to 指派, often used for sending a representative or assigning someone to a mission.