Kiem

Kiem is the romanized form of the Vietnamese verb kiêm, which means to hold multiple roles or duties at the same time. It is used to describe individuals who perform two or more positions or functions concurrently, such as in employment, government, or organizational settings. In Vietnamese orthography, kiêm is written with diacritics; kiem is the non-diacritic form that may appear in older texts or in contexts where diacritics are omitted.

Etymology and related forms: Kiêm derives from the Sino-Vietnamese character 兼, which conveys simultaneity and combination. In modern Vietnamese it appears in compounds such as kiêm nhiệm (to hold an additional post) and kiêm chức vụ (to serve in multiple positions). The meaning emphasizes overlapping responsibilities rather than sequential changes.

Usage and examples: Kiêm is a verb that requires a subject and can be used with various nouns to express concurrent roles. Examples include: “Ông kiêm chức vụ chủ tịch và giám đốc.” and “Cô ấy kiêm nhiệm hai công việc ngoài giờ.” The compound noun kiêm nhiệm refers specifically to the practice of holding more than one duty at once. In standard Vietnamese, diacritics are typically used; kiem appears when diacritics are omitted.

Other notes: Outside Vietnamese-language contexts, kiêm appear rarely and is not an independent English term. The concept is closely related to phrases describing dual or multiple appointments, such as kiêm nhiệm or đồng thời đảm nhiệm. See also kiêm nhiệm and kiêm chức vụ for related terminology.