後任|こうにんkounin[0]heiban (flat)

1. no-adjectivesuccessor
   スミス氏しが後任こうにんの委員長いいんちょうとして発表はっぴょうされた。↗

   Mr Smith was announced as the succeeding chairman.

• Synonym後継こうけいWrittenWritten/formal prose; carrying on a business or position, with the stress on long-term continuity, whereas 「後任」 is simply whoever takes over a given post.
• Synonym後釜あとがまCasualColloquial; the person who takes over, or a second wife, as in 「後釜を狙う」. Can sound slightly dismissive; 「後任」 is the neutral, formal term.
• Synonym後継者こうけいしゃNeutralA successor, stressing the carrying-on of an enterprise as a whole, as in 「後継者を育てる」.
• Related跡継ぎあとつぎCasualColloquial; one who inherits the family business; family-oriented.
• Related跡取りあととりCasualColloquial; the one who takes over the family estate or household headship, not limited to the eldest son; household-oriented.
• Related代わりかわりNeutralA substitute or stand-in, as in 「代わりの人」; a common word of wide range, not limited to posts.
• Related補欠ほけつNeutralA substitute or alternate, as in 「補欠選手」「補欠合格」; stresses being a backup.
• Related替えかえNeutralA replacement or spare, as in 「替えのシャツ」; mostly for things, not people.
• Related身代わりみがわりCasualColloquial; a stand-in who takes someone's place, as in 「身代わりになる」; often implies sacrifice.
• Related代理だいりNeutralActing in someone's place, as in 「部長代理」; a temporary stand-in, not the formal successor.
• Related替え玉かえだまCasualColloquial; an impostor standing in for someone, often in exam cheating, or a second helping of ramen noodles.
• Related世継ぎよつぎWrittenWritten/formal prose; heir to a royal or noble family, stressing hereditary succession.
• Related世子せいしWrittenWritten/formal prose; heir of a feudal lord or noble, with a historical flavor.
• Related継嗣けいしWrittenWritten/formal prose; an heir to a family line, rare today; not used for job succession.
• Related継承者けいしょうしゃNeutralAn inheritor; status, property, or skills can all be what is inherited.
• Related後嗣こうしWrittenWritten/formal prose; heirs or descendants, rare today; not used for job succession.
• Related嗣子ししWrittenWritten/formal prose; the heir who carries on a family, rare today; not used for job succession.
• Antonym前任ぜんにんNeutralThe predecessor — the opposite of 「後任」, who takes over the post.

Use 「後任」 for the person taking over a post from a predecessor, as in 「後任の社長」「後任人事」; colloquially 「後釜」. For someone acting in another's place temporarily use 「代理」, and for substitutes or alternates 「補欠」. 「後継」「後継者」「継承者」 stress carrying on a business, position or skill over the long term; 「跡継ぎ」「跡取り」「世継ぎ」 lean toward family or hereditary heirs, and 「世子」「継嗣」「後嗣」「嗣子」 are rare, old-style words for heirs. 「代わり」「替え」「身代わり」「替え玉」 are about substitution in general. The opposite of 「後任」 is 「前任」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 前まえの人ひとに代かわってある職務しょくむに任命にんめいされること。また、その人ひと。