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March 24, 2026
担任(擔任)dānrèn(dan1ren4)
The verb 担任 (dānrèn) means to hold a position or office, particularly in a formal or governmental context. It is commonly used to describe someone's role or responsibilities within an organization, such as serving as a manager, president, or other official capacities.
Strokes14Frequency#5992DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, holding a government office is often seen as a position of respect and responsibility, reflecting the Confucian values of duty and service. The concept of serving the community is deeply rooted in Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a large burden (担) on their shoulders, which represents their responsibility in a position (任). The word sounds like 'dan' (担) for burden and 'ren' (任) for the role they play.
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AI Study Notes for 担任
Quick Contrast
代理 (dàilǐ) - use 担任 when referring to officially holding a position, while 代理 implies acting on behalf of someone else in that role.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 担任 with similar words like 担负 (dānfù), which means to bear a burden rather than to hold a position. It is generally used in formal contexts, so be cautious when using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 担任职务 (dānrèn zhíwù), meaning to hold an office.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 担任 connects with other words related to positions and roles, such as 职务 (zhíwù - position) and 负责 (fùzé - to be responsible for). Focus on practicing its use in sentences that describe job roles.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 担任 to describe informal roles, such as '担任学生' (dānrèn xuéshēng - to hold the position of a student). The correct phrasing would be to simply say '我是学生' (wǒ shì xuéshēng - I am a student).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 担任
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How to say to hold a governmental office or post in Chinese
“to hold a governmental office or post” in Chinese is担任dānrèn
The verb 担任 (dānrèn) means to hold a position or office, particularly in a formal or governmental context. It is commonly used to describe someone's role or responsibilities within an organization, such as serving as a manager, president, or other official capacities.
When to use 担任
Learners often confuse 担任 with similar words like 担负 (dānfù), which means to bear a burden rather than to hold a position. It is generally used in formal contexts, so be cautious when using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 担任职务 (dānrèn zhíwù), meaning to hold an office.
担任 or something close to it
代理 (dàilǐ) - use 担任 when referring to officially holding a position, while 代理 implies acting on behalf of someone else in that role.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes incorrectly use 担任 to describe informal roles, such as '担任学生' (dānrèn xuéshēng - to hold the position of a student). The correct phrasing would be to simply say '我是学生' (wǒ shì xuéshēng - I am a student).
Write 担任
担
任
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Grammar Patterns of 担任
担任 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
