HSK · Level 81
45 words
Chinese word
任意
Pronunciation
Pinyinrèn yì
Meaning
- adjectiveany
Example
请从列表中选一个任意的选项。qǐng cóng liè biǎo zhōng xuǎn yí gè rèn yì de xuǎn xiàng
Choose any option from the list.
More examples
学生可以任意顺序完成练习题。xué shēng ké yǐ rèn yì shùn xù wán chéng liàn xí tí
Students can complete the exercises in any order.
Core concept
A choice stays in the chooser's hands, with no fixed requirement to accept or include it.
Common phrases
任意顺序rèn yì shùn xù
any order
任意位置rèn yì wèi zhì
any position
任意时间rèn yì shí jiān
any time
Similar words
随便suí biàn: Done or chosen freely, without concern for formal rules or a fixed order.
可选kě xuǎn: Available for selection from a set of choices or conditions.
自由zì yóu: Free from outside control, so choices and actions follow personal judgment.
随意suí yì: Decided freely according to personal preference or judgment.
Definition in Chinese
不强制、可按个人意愿选择或省略，常用于表示某项为可选项。bù qiáng zhì kě àn gè rén yì yuàn xuǎn zé huò shěng lüè cháng yòng yú biǎo shì mǒu xiàng wèi ké xuǎn xiàng
Word origin
任意 (rènyì, "at one's will") combines 任 (rèn, "entrust") with 意 (yì, "intention"), presenting a choice as left to a person's own intention.
Usage tips
- In forms and menus, 任意 (rènyì, "at one's will") often marks an item that may be left blank or chosen freely, while casual speech may use 随便 (suíbiàn, "whatever") for a similar idea.