前任(ぜんにん)

Composed of 前(ぜん) (before/previous) + 任(にん) (duty/appointment). Specifically refers to the person who previously held a position, not a predecessor in a general or hereditary sense.

Common collocations

• 前任者(ぜんにんしゃ): predecessor (person)
• 前任(ぜんにん)の担当者(たんとうしゃ): the previous person in charge
• 前任(ぜんにん)から引(ひ)き継(つ)ぐ: to take over from one's predecessor
• 前任(ぜんにん)校長(こうちょう): former principal
• 前任(ぜんにん)大使(たいし): former ambassador

Similar words

• 後任(こうにん): successor — the opposite of 前任(ぜんにん); the person who takes over the role
• 前(まえ)の担当者(たんとうしゃ): the previous person in charge — more colloquial expression
• 先任(せんにん): senior (in rank/appointment) — refers to seniority, not to having left the role

Usage

Common in workplace, organizational, and political contexts. Often appears in discussions of job handovers, leadership changes, and comparisons between current and previous officeholders.