Entrusting a task or responsibility to another person, implying trust and delegation.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Entrusting tasks or responsibilities to others.
- Implies trust, delegation, and often supervision.
- Common in business, administration, and daily life.
Overview
委托（wěituō）是一个常用的动词，表示将某项任务、职责或权力交给别人去执行。这个词语强调了信任和授权的关系，通常在需要专业知识、资源或因为时间/精力限制而无法亲自处理事务时使用。委托意味着将一部分控制权转移给被委托者，但委托人仍然可能保留一定的监督权或最终决定权。
委托通常与以下几种情况相关：
**法律或合同关系**：在法律或商业合同中，委托常用于明确双方的权责。
商业合作：公司委托律师处理法律事务，委托会计师审计财务。
行政管理：领导委托下属完成某个项目，经理委托部门处理客户投诉。
日常生活：请朋友帮忙委托代购商品，委托中介处理房屋租赁。
学术研究：教授委托研究生收集数据，委托实验室进行检测。
外交事务：国家委托大使处理对外关系。
委任通常用于更正式的场合，如任命某人担任某个职位或承担某项重要职责，带有较强的任命性质。
授权更侧重于授予权力或权利，而委托则更侧重于将具体事务交给他人办理，可能包含权力的授予，也可能只是任务的分配。
转交仅仅是将物品或信息从一个人传递给另一个人，不涉及责任或任务的处理，比委托的含义要浅得多。
Examples
由于我最近非常忙，就把孩子的接送任务委托给了我的妻子。
everydaySince I've been very busy lately, I've entrusted the task of picking up and dropping off the child to my wife.
该公司委托一家著名的广告公司为其新产品策划宣传活动。
formalThe company commissioned a well-known advertising agency to plan the promotional campaign for its new product.
你能不能帮我把这个包裹委托给快递员？
informalCould you help me entrust this package to the courier?
在研究过程中，研究员委托实验室对样本进行生物化学分析。
academicDuring the research process, the researcher commissioned the laboratory to conduct biochemical analysis on the samples.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
委托他人
entrust to others
委托办理
entrust to handle
全权委托
full power of attorney
Often Confused With
Authorization (授权) focuses on granting power or rights, while entrustment (委托) is about assigning a specific task or responsibility to be carried out.
Appointment (委任) typically implies a formal designation to a position or a significant role, often by a higher authority. Entrustment (委托) can be less formal and more about task delegation.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The verb '委托' is widely used in both formal and informal contexts. In formal settings like business or legal documents, it clearly defines the delegation of tasks and responsibilities. In everyday conversation, it's used for simpler requests, like asking someone to handle a task for you.
Common Mistakes
Avoid using '委托' when you simply mean 'to give' or 'to hand over' without any element of responsibility or trust. Ensure the context implies that someone is taking on a task or duty on your behalf.
Tips
Understand the Scope
When you entrust something, be clear about the scope of work and expectations. Ensure the person you entrust it to understands their responsibilities.
Choose Wisely
Be careful who you entrust tasks to. Entrusting important matters to unreliable individuals can lead to negative consequences.
Importance of Guanxi
In Chinese culture, relationships (Guanxi) often play a role in entrustment. Trust is built over time, making personal connections significant in delegating tasks.
Word Origin
The word 委托 (wěituō) combines '委' (wěi), meaning to discard, delegate, or appoint, and '托' (tuō), meaning to entrust, support, or place reliance upon. Together, they form the concept of delegating something while placing trust in the recipient.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, entrusting tasks often involves a degree of personal trust and relationship building (Guanxi). While formal contracts exist, informal entrustment relies heavily on the perceived reliability and integrity of the person being entrusted.
Memory Tip
Think of '委托' as 'trusting' someone with a 'task'. The character '托' (tuō) itself relates to supporting or entrusting, reinforcing the meaning of relying on someone.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“委托”更侧重于将具体的事务或任务交给他人去处理，强调的是“办”这件事。而“授权”则更侧重于授予对方权力或权利，强调的是“能做”这件事。委托通常包含授权，但授权不一定涉及具体的事务处理。
当你需要将某项工作交给他人处理，因为你自己没有时间、精力，或者缺乏相关的专业知识和技能时，就可以使用“委托”。这是一种将责任和任务进行分派的有效方式。
不一定。虽然委托是将事务交给他人办理，但委托人通常仍负有监督的责任，并对最终结果负有部分或全部责任，具体取决于委托的性质和协议。
“委托”可以广泛应用于商业、法律、行政管理、日常生活、学术研究等多个领域，只要存在将事务或责任交给他人处理的需求，都可以使用这个词。
Test Yourself
由于时间关系，我决定将这项工作______给我的同事。
这里指的是将具体的工作任务交给同事去完成，最适合的词是“委托”。“授权”侧重权力，“转交”只是传递，“委任”更正式。
下列哪个句子正确使用了“委托”？
A选项中，将设计任务交给建筑师是典型的委托行为。B选项的“必须”语气过重，更像是命令。C选项中，银行通常是要求客户提供信息，而不是委托。D选项“委托发言权”不符合常规用法。
委托 / 律师 / 处理 / 法律事务
A选项符合主语（委托人）、谓语（委托）、宾语（受托人）和宾语的动作（处理事务）的逻辑顺序。
Score: /3
Summary
Entrusting a task or responsibility to another person, implying trust and delegation.
- Entrusting tasks or responsibilities to others.
- Implies trust, delegation, and often supervision.
- Common in business, administration, and daily life.
Understand the Scope
When you entrust something, be clear about the scope of work and expectations. Ensure the person you entrust it to understands their responsibilities.
Choose Wisely
Be careful who you entrust tasks to. Entrusting important matters to unreliable individuals can lead to negative consequences.
Importance of Guanxi
In Chinese culture, relationships (Guanxi) often play a role in entrustment. Trust is built over time, making personal connections significant in delegating tasks.
Examples
4 of 4由于我最近非常忙，就把孩子的接送任务委托给了我的妻子。
Since I've been very busy lately, I've entrusted the task of picking up and dropping off the child to my wife.
该公司委托一家著名的广告公司为其新产品策划宣传活动。
The company commissioned a well-known advertising agency to plan the promotional campaign for its new product.
你能不能帮我把这个包裹委托给快递员？
Could you help me entrust this package to the courier?
在研究过程中，研究员委托实验室对样本进行生物化学分析。
During the research process, the researcher commissioned the laboratory to conduct biochemical analysis on the samples.
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