xièrèn: 卸任 - To Leave Office, To Step Down, To Finish a Term

• Keywords: xieren, 卸任, leave office Chinese, step down from a position Chinese, finish term of office, Chinese for resignation, former president, former official, xièrèn meaning, end of term, political transition
• Summary: Learn the meaning and use of 卸任 (xièrèn), a formal Chinese verb for “to leave office” or “step down.” This guide explains how 卸任 is used for high-level positions like presidents, CEOs, and officials, contrasting it with terms like “to resign” (辞职) and “to retire” (退休). Discover its cultural significance in formal transitions of power and see practical examples of how it's used in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiè rèn
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To be relieved of one's official post, typically after completing a term or through a formal process.
• In a Nutshell: 卸任 (xièrèn) isn't just “quitting a job.” It's a formal and often neutral term used when someone leaves a significant position of authority or responsibility, like a president, CEO, or director. It implies the completion of duties and the formal transfer of power, rather than a sudden or personal decision to quit. Think of it as formally “unloading the responsibilities” of a major role.

• 卸 (xiè): This character's original meaning is “to unload” or “to remove.” Imagine unloading cargo from a truck (卸货 - xièhuò) or a soldier removing their armor (卸甲 - xièjiǎ). In this context, it means to unload a burden or responsibility.
• 任 (rèn): This character means “post,” “duty,” “responsibility,” or “term of office.” It refers to the official position someone holds.
• The characters combine beautifully: 卸 (to unload) + 任 (a post/duty) = to unload the duties of one's post. This creates a vivid image of formally stepping away from a position of responsibility.

In Chinese culture, which often emphasizes formal structures and the collective over the individual, 卸任 (xièrèn) highlights the process and the position itself, rather than the person leaving it. The term underscores a smooth, orderly transition of power, which is a highly valued concept in both political and corporate governance. A useful Western comparison is the phrase “to leave office.” However, 卸任 is almost exclusively used for high-ranking, formal roles. You would never use it for leaving a job as a waiter or a cashier. Furthermore, “stepping down” in English can sometimes carry a slight connotation of being forced out or leaving under pressure. 卸任 is more neutral and often simply describes the natural end of a 任期 (rènqī), or “term of office.” It's a procedural term, focusing on the continuity of the institution over the departure of the individual.

卸任 (xièrèn) is a formal word you'll encounter frequently in news reports, official announcements, and discussions about politics or major corporations.

• Political Context: This is its most common usage. News about presidents, prime ministers, governors, and ministers finishing their terms will always use 卸任.
  • e.g., “The former president, after leaving office…” (前总统卸任后…)
• Corporate Context: It's used for high-level executives like CEOs (首席执行官), Chairpersons (董事长), and board members.
  • e.g., “The company announced that its CEO will step down next month.” (公司宣布其首席执行官将于下月卸任。)
• Formality and Connotation: The term is very formal and generally neutral. It simply states the fact of a departure from a post. It's not emotional and avoids suggesting whether the departure was good, bad, voluntary, or forced.

• Example 1:
  • 这位总统在他的卸任演说中感谢了全国人民的支持。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi zǒngtǒng zài tā de xièrèn yǎnshuō zhōng gǎnxiè le quánguó rénmín de zhīchí.
  • English: The president thanked the support of the nation's people in his farewell address.
  • Analysis: A classic example of political usage. The 卸任 speech is the final, formal act of leaving office.
• Example 2:
  • 公司创始人卸任CEO后，将担任董事会顾问。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī chuàngshǐrén xièrèn CEO hòu, jiāng dānrèn dǒngshìhuì gùwèn.
  • English: After stepping down as CEO, the company founder will serve as an advisor to the board.
  • Analysis: This shows that 卸任 from one role doesn't necessarily mean leaving the organization entirely.
• Example 3:
  • 按照规定，他明年就必须卸任了。
  • Pinyin: Ànzhào guīdìng, tā míngnián jiù bìxū xièrèn le.
  • English: According to the regulations, he must leave his post next year.
  • Analysis: This highlights that 卸任 is often tied to a fixed term or rule, not a personal choice.
• Example 4:
  • 他卸任后，花更多时间陪伴家人。
  • Pinyin: Tā xièrèn hòu, huā gèng duō shíjiān péibàn jiārén.
  • English: After he left office, he spent more time with his family.
  • Analysis: A common, neutral way to talk about the post-office life of a public figure.
• Example 5:
  • 新闻报道了关于总理即将卸任的传闻。
  • Pinyin: xīnwén bàodào le guānyú zǒnglǐ jíjiāng xièrèn de chuánwén.
  • English: The news reported rumors about the prime minister's impending departure from office.
  • Analysis: Shows 卸任 used in media and speculation about political changes.
• Example 6:
  • 作为卸任校长，他依然关心着学校的发展。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi xièrèn xiàozhǎng, tā yīrán guānxīn zhe xuéxiào de fāzhǎn.
  • English: As the former principal, he still cares about the school's development.
  • Analysis: Here, 卸任 functions adjectivally to mean “former” or “outgoing.”
• Example 7:
  • 没人知道他为何在任期结束前突然宣布卸任。
  • Pinyin: Méi rén zhīdào tā wèihé zài rènqī jiéshù qián tūrán xuānbù xièrèn.
  • English: No one knows why he suddenly announced he was stepping down before his term was over.
  • Analysis: While often used for the end of a term, it can also be used for an early departure, but it still maintains a formal tone, distinct from a simple “resignation.”
• Example 8:
  • 他的卸任标志着一个时代的结束。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xièrèn biāozhì zhe yī gè shídài de jiéshù.
  • English: His departure from office marked the end of an era.
  • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the significance and impact of a leader's term ending.
• Example 9:
  • 董事会已经开始寻找他卸任后的继任者。
  • Pinyin: Dǒngshìhuì yǐjīng kāishǐ xúnzhǎo tā xièrèn hòu de jìrènzhě.
  • English: The board of directors has already started looking for his successor for after he steps down.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the process of transition that 卸任 initiates.
• Example 10:
  • 他是选择卸任，而不是被迫辞职。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì xuǎnzé xièrèn, ér bùshì bèipò cízhí.
  • English: He chose to step down formally, rather than being forced to resign.
  • Analysis: This directly contrasts 卸任 with 辞职 (cízhí), highlighting the more formal and often more dignified nature of 卸任.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 卸任 (xièrèn) with similar-sounding concepts.

• 卸任 (xièrèn) vs. 辞职 (cízhí - to resign):
  • 卸任 is formal and often procedural. It's about leaving a high-level post, usually at the end of a term.
  • 辞职 is the general word for “to quit” or “to resign” from any job. It's an active, personal decision.
  • Incorrect: 我下周要从麦当劳卸任。 (Wǒ xiàzhōu yào cóng Màidāngláo xièrèn.) → Wrong. You don't hold a formal “office” at McDonald's.
  • Correct: 我下周要从麦当劳辞职。 (Wǒ xiàzhōu yào cóng Màidāngláo cízhí.)
• 卸任 (xièrèn) vs. 退休 (tuìxiū - to retire):
  • 卸任 is about leaving a specific post. A person can 卸任 as CEO at age 55 and then take on another role.
  • 退休 is about leaving the workforce entirely, usually due to age.
  • Relationship: A president might 卸任 (leave office) and 退休 (retire from public life) at the same time. But they are two distinct concepts.

• 上任 (shàngrèn) - The direct antonym of 卸任. It means “to take office” or “to assume a post.”
• 辞职 (cízhí) - To resign or quit a job. More personal and can be used for any level of employment.
• 退休 (tuìxiū) - To retire from one's career, typically due to age.
• 任期 (rènqī) - Term of office. 卸任 often happens at the end of one's 任期.
• 离职 (lízhí) - A general term for leaving a job. It's a broad category that can include resigning, being laid off, or a contract ending.
• 前任 (qiánrèn) - Noun for “predecessor” (the person who held the post before).
• 继任 (jìrèn) - To succeed someone in a post; or as a noun, the “successor.”
• 交接 (jiāojiē) - To hand over duties; the transition process that occurs when one person 卸任 and another 上任.