任

A phono-semantic compound:

亻 (사람 인, “person”) as the semantic element;

壬 (북방 임) as the phonetic element.

Semantic range:

- to entrust, to assign a task;

- responsibility, office, post;

- to bear, to endure;

- as a surname in East Asia.

任務 (임무) — duty, mission

責任 (책임) — responsibility

任命 (임명) — appointment, nomination

In Confucian thought, 任 is central to the idea of taking responsibility and carrying one’s role in society with integrity. It is closely tied to 責 (책, duty) in the compound 責任 (“responsibility”), emphasizing moral accountability.

The notion of 任 resonates strongly with Christian ideas of calling and stewardship. In Scripture, individuals are entrusted (任) by God with particular missions or vocations — whether prophets in the Old Testament, apostles in the New Testament, or every believer in their daily life.