後任(こうにん)

こうにん
noun
successor, replacement
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))
general
Added 2026.2.22 12:58
12500/12580_kounin