Meaning of 任何
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- any; whatever; whichever
How to use 任何
任何 usually comes before a noun and is often paired with 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) later in the sentence. It is very common in negative sentences to mean not any at all. Example: 我没有任何问题。(Wǒ méiyǒu rènhé wèntí.) I don't have any questions.
任 (rèn) can mean to let or allow, and 何 (hé) is a classical word for what or which. Together they suggest letting it be whichever one you like, so 任何 means any.
Common mistake: Learners often drop the 都 or 也 in sentences like 任何人都可以来 (rènhé rén dōu kěyǐ lái), which sounds incomplete without it. Also do not mix up 任何 (rènhé, any) with 如何 (rúhé, how), since they share the same second character.
任何 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
任 rèn · to assign · 6 strokes
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何 hé · what · 7 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 任何.
| 如何 | rúhé | how; what way |
| 任务 | rènwu | mission; assignment; task; duty; role |
| 信任 | xìnrèn | to trust; to have confidence in |
| 责任 | zérèn | responsibility; duty; liability |
| 主任 | zhǔrèn | director; head |
| 担任 | dānrèn | to hold a governmental office or post; to assume office of |
| 为何 | wèihé | why |
| 何时 | hé shí | when |
| 无论如何 | wúlùn-rúhé | (idiom) whatever the case; in any event; no matter what; by all possible means |
| 何必 | hébì | there is no need; why should |
| 何处 | hé chù | whence; where |
| 前任 | qiánrèn | predecessor; ex- |
Questions about 任何
What does 任何 mean?
任何 (rènhé) means "any; whatever; whichever" and is used as a pronoun.
How do you write 任何?
任何 is made of 2 characters: 任 (6 strokes), 何 (7 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.
Is 任何 an HSK word?
Yes. 任何 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 任何 and 什么 when both mean any?
任何 must go directly before a noun, as in 任何东西 (rènhé dōngxi, anything). 什么 can stand alone, as in 我什么都不要 (wǒ shénme dōu bú yào, I don't want anything). 任何 also sounds a bit more formal.
Can I use 任何 by itself to mean anything or anyone?
No, 任何 needs a noun after it. Say 任何人 (rènhé rén) for anyone and 任何事 (rènhé shì) or 任何东西 (rènhé dōngxi) for anything.