後 任(こうにん)

こうにん

noun

successor, replacement

formalbusinesswork

1. successor, replacement

A person who takes over a position or role from someone else. Used in workplace, organizational, and official contexts when referring to whoever fills a vacated post.

後任(こうにん)はまだ決(き)まっていない。

The successor has not been decided yet.

彼女(かのじょ)が部長(ぶちょう)の後任(こうにん)に選(えら)ばれた。

She was chosen as the department head's successor.

社長(しゃちょう)が退任(たいにん)するため、後任(こうにん)の人事(じんじ)について議論(ぎろん)が続(つづ)いている。

Because the company president is stepping down, discussions about the successor's appointment are ongoing.

Usage

Used in formal and professional contexts when someone takes over a role. The word focuses on the organizational position being filled rather than personal qualities.

Common collocations

後任(こうにん)を選(えら)ぶ: to choose a successor
後任(こうにん)に就(つ)く: to take over as successor
後任(こうにん)を探(さが)す: to look for a replacement
後任(こうにん)の人事(じんじ): personnel decision regarding a successor

Similar words

Compare with 後継者(こうけいしゃ), which emphasizes inheriting a legacy or carrying on a tradition, while 後任(こうにん) focuses on filling an organizational position.

Related Words

Related: 後継者(こうけいしゃ) (heir, successor (legacy))

Related: 引(ひ)き継(つ)ぎ (handover)

Compare: 後続(こうぞく) (following)

Compare: 前任者(ぜんにんしゃ) (predecessor)

Compare: 後継(こうけい) (succession)

Antonym: 前任(ぜんにん) (predecessor)

general

Added 2026.2.22 12:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

12500/12580_kounin