Refers to a role, task, or obligation one is entrusted with, often in formal or organizational contexts. Common in compounds like 責任 (responsibility) and 任務 (mission).
彼はその任にふさわしい人物だ。
He is the right person for the duty.
He took up a new duty.
任を果たすために全力を尽くした。
I did my best to fulfill my responsibility.
彼は重い任を負っている。
He bears a heavy duty.
職務 refers concretely to the duties attached to one's job or post, while 任 is a more formal, abstract word for an entrusted responsibility.
使命 carries a sense of calling or mission with strong personal purpose, while 任 is a neutral, formal term for a duty one is given.
duty; responsibility · liability; onus
duty; mission; task; role
optional; voluntary; any; arbitrary · arbitrary
assumption of office; inauguration; installation
resignation; stepping down
The kanji 任 originally depicts a person bearing a burden, conveying the idea of being entrusted with a task. The reading にん is the on'yomi, commonly used in compounds.
dismissal; discharge; removal from a post
term of office; period of appointment
moving to a new post; proceeding to a new appointment
entrusting; delegation; authorization
successor; replacement
taking up a new post; assuming a new position
full-time; exclusive assignment; dedicated
resignation; stepping down; retirement
concurrent post; additional role; serving also as
predecessor; former incumbent
nomination; selection; appointment
first appointment; initial posting
standing; regular; permanent
trust; confidence; credence
newly appointed; new appointment; inaugural
successive appointments; consecutive posts
no confidence; non-confidence; lack of confidence
entrust entirely; leave completely to
competent; suitable; qualified
appoint; nominate · assume (responsibility); take on (a duty) · pose as; pretend to be
being in office; tenure
chivalry; chivalrous spirit; helping the weak and fighting the strong · yakuza (euphemistic)