====== dānrèn: 担任 - To Hold a Post, Serve As, Assume a Position ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 担任, danren, hold a post in Chinese, serve as in Chinese, assume a position, Chinese for job title, formal Chinese verb, professional vocabulary, 担任 vs 当, HSK 4 vocabulary, take on responsibility.
  * **Summary:** Learn how to use the formal Chinese verb **担任 (dānrèn)**, which means "to hold a post," "to serve as," or "to assume a position." This essential HSK 4 term is crucial for professional and official contexts, such as on a resume, in a news report, or when discussing job titles and formal responsibilities. Discover how it differs from the more common verb 当 (dāng) and how it reflects the importance of roles and duties in Chinese culture.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** dānrèn
  * **Part of Speech:** Verb
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
  * **Concise Definition:** To formally hold a position, serve as, or take on an official role.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **担任 (dānrèn)** is the word you use when you're talking about someone holding a specific, official title or role, like "CEO," "committee chair," or "project manager." It's more formal than simply saying someone "is" a manager. Think of it as meaning "to serve in the capacity of," carrying a sense of duty and official responsibility.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **担 (dān):** This character is composed of the "hand" radical (扌) on the left and a phonetic component on the right. Its core meaning is "to carry on the shoulder," "to bear," or "to undertake." It vividly pictures someone taking on a heavy weight or responsibility.
  * **任 (rèn):** This character has the "person" radical (亻) on the left. It means "to appoint," "an official post," or "a duty." It refers to a specific role or function assigned to a person.
  * **Combined Meaning:** When you put them together, **担任 (dānrèn)** literally translates to "to carry a post" or "to undertake a duty." This perfectly captures the modern meaning of formally accepting and performing the duties of an official position.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
  * **Emphasis on Roles and Formality:** In Chinese culture, particularly in professional and official settings, titles and roles carry significant weight. Using **担任 (dānrèn)** acknowledges this formality and shows respect for the position and its associated responsibilities. It frames a job not just as a personal identity ("He is a manager") but as a functional role within a system ("He serves as the manager").
  * **Comparison to "To Be" vs. "To Serve As":** In English, we might say "She is the CEO" in both casual and many formal situations. While `她是CEO (Tā shì CEO)` is grammatically correct in Chinese, a news report, official company bio, or formal introduction would almost always prefer `她担任CEO (Tā dānrèn CEO)`. This highlights a subtle but important cultural difference: **担任** focuses on the *function* and *responsibility* being performed for the collective or organization, whereas the English "to be" can focus more on the individual's status or identity. It reflects a society where one's role and contribution to the group are often emphasized.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
  * **Formal & Professional Contexts:** You will see and use **担任** most frequently in written documents and formal speech.
    *   **Resumes (简历 - jiǎnlì):** Essential for describing past work experience. E.g., `2018年至2022年，我在ABC公司担任项目经理。` (From 2018 to 2022, I held the position of Project Manager at ABC Company.)
    *   **News Reports & Official Announcements:** Used to introduce people and their official titles.
    *   **Business Meetings:** When introducing a colleague's role: `这位是李总，担任我们公司的首席技术官。` (This is President Li; he serves as our company's CTO.)
  * **Types of Roles:** **担任** is best used for specific, official, or functional titles, not general professions.
    *   **Good:** `担任经理` (manager), `担任主席` (chairman), `担任教练` (coach), `担任主角` (lead actor).
    *   **Awkward/Incorrect:** It sounds unnatural to say `担任工人` (worker) or `担任农民` (farmer). For general professions, `当 (dāng)` or `是 (shì)` is much better.
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:** 
    * 他在公司**担任**首席执行官。
    * Pinyin: Tā zài gōngsī **dānrèn** shǒuxí zhíxíng guān.
    * English: He serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the company.
    * Analysis: This is a classic, formal use of **担任** for a high-level corporate title. This is the standard phrasing you'd see in a business article or company profile.
  * **Example 2:** 
    * 我很荣幸能**担任**这个项目的负责人。
    * Pinyin: Wǒ hěn róngxìng néng **dānrèn** zhège xiàngmù de fùzérén.
    * English: I am honored to be able to serve as the person in charge of this project.
    * Analysis: Here, **担任** is used with a functional role ("person in charge"). The sentence has a formal and appreciative tone, common in a professional setting.
  * **Example 3:** 
    * 李老师不仅教我们数学，还**担任**我们的班主任。
    * Pinyin: Lǐ lǎoshī bùjǐn jiāo wǒmen shùxué, hái **dānrèn** wǒmen de bānzhǔrèn.
    * English: Teacher Li not only teaches us math but also serves as our class advisor.
    * Analysis: A "class advisor" (班主任) is an official role within a school, making **担任** the perfect verb. It distinguishes this specific duty from the general job of "teacher."
  * **Example 4:** 
    * 你想**担任**什么职位？
    * Pinyin: Nǐ xiǎng **dānrèn** shénme zhíwèi?
    * English: What position would you like to hold?
    * Analysis: This is a typical and formal question you might hear in a job interview. `职位 (zhíwèi)` means "post" or "position" and is the natural object for **担任**.
  * **Example 5:** 
    * 他因健康原因不再**担任**董事长一职。
    * Pinyin: Tā yīn jiànkāng yuányīn bù zài **dānrèn** dǒngshìzhǎng yī zhí.
    * English: For health reasons, he no longer holds the post of Chairman of the Board.
    * Analysis: This example shows the negative form, `不再担任` (no longer serve as). The phrase `一职` (the post of) is often added after the title in formal written Chinese to emphasize the role.
  * **Example 6:** 
    * 她被任命**担任**新成立的委员会的主席。
    * Pinyin: Tā bèi rènmìng **dānrèn** xīn chénglì de wěiyuánhuì de zhǔxí.
    * English: She was appointed to serve as the chairperson of the newly established committee.
    * Analysis: This sentence shows how `任命` (to appoint) and `担任` (to serve as) work together. The appointment leads to her holding the position.
  * **Example 7:** 
    * 在这部电影中，她**担任**女主角。
    * Pinyin: Zài zhè bù diànyǐng zhōng, tā **dānrèn** nǚ zhǔjiǎo.
    * English: In this movie, she plays the leading female role.
    * Analysis: **担任** can also be used for specific, designated roles outside of business, such as in the arts. "Lead actor/actress" is considered a specific, principal role.
  * **Example 8:** 
    * 谁将**担任**下一届总统？
    * Pinyin: Shéi jiāng **dānrèn** xià yī jiè zǒngtǒng?
    * English: Who will serve as the next president?
    * Analysis: For high-level government positions like "president," "minister," or "governor," **担任** is the standard verb to use.
  * **Example 9:** 
    * 他曾经**担任**国家队教练。
    * Pinyin: Tā céngjīng **dānrèn** guójiāduì jiàoliàn.
    * English: He once served as the coach of the national team.
    * Analysis: The use of `曾经 (céngjīng)` shows that he held this official coaching position in the past.
  * **Example 10:** 
    * 每个小组成员都需要**担任**一个角色，无论是记录员还是计时员。
    * Pinyin: Měi ge xiǎozǔ chéngyuán dōu xūyào **dānrèn** yī ge juésè, wúlùn shì jìlùyuán háishì jìshíyuán.
    * English: Every group member needs to take on a role, whether it's the note-taker or the timekeeper.
    * Analysis: This demonstrates that **担任** can apply to smaller, temporary, but still formally defined roles within a group or activity.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
  * **`担任` (dānrèn) vs. `当` (dāng): The Biggest Pitfall**
    * **`担任`** is **formal** and used for **specific, official titles/posts**.
      * Correct: `他担任经理。` (He holds the position of manager.)
    * **`当` (dāng)** is more **colloquial** and used for **general professions or roles**. It's closer to "to be" or "to work as."
      * Correct: `我长大了想当医生。` (I want to be a doctor when I grow up.)
      * Common Speech: `他在那个公司当经理。` (He's a manager at that company.) - More casual than using `担任`.
    * **Mistake:** You cannot `担任` a general identity.
      * **Incorrect:** `*我想担任一个好学生。` (I want to serve as a good student.)
      * **Correct:** `我想当一个好学生。` or `我想做一个好学生。`
  * **`担任` (dānrèn) vs. `是` (shì): Formality and Focus**
    * **`是` (shì)** simply states a fact or identity. It's neutral.
      * `他是我们的老板。` (He is our boss.)
    * **`担任` (dānrèn)** emphasizes the function, duty, and formality of the role.
      * `他担任我们公司的老板。` (He serves as the boss of our company.) - Sounds a bit redundant but highlights his function. It's better with a more official title like CEO.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * [[当]] (dāng) - A more common and colloquial verb meaning "to work as" or "to be," used for general professions.
  * [[职位]] (zhíwèi) - A noun for "position" or "post," the thing that one `担任`.
  * [[职责]] (zhízé) - A noun for "duty" or "responsibility," which comes with a `职位`.
  * [[负责]] (fùzé) - A verb meaning "to be in charge of" or "to be responsible for." A person who `担任` a role is `负责` its duties.
  * [[任命]] (rènmìng) - A verb meaning "to appoint." An action performed by a superior that results in someone getting to `担任` a new role.
  * [[上任]] (shàngrèn) - A verb meaning "to take office" or "to assume a post." It describes the beginning of the period when one `担任` a position.
  * [[卸任]] (xièrèn) - A verb meaning "to leave office," the opposite of `上任`. It marks the end of `担任`-ing a position.
  * [[兼任]] (jiānrèn) - A verb meaning "to hold a concurrent post," i.e., to `担任` two or more positions at the same time.