Although the term of a zuryo was usually four years, recipients took turns appointing zuryo to different provinces every year (if a zuryo controlled four provinces, the recipients could recommend and appoint a zuryo in a different province every year) causing zuryo to be called 'nenbun zuryo.'
受領の任期は通常4年であったが、院らは持ち回りによって毎年のように別個の令制国の受領を任じた（4ヶ国の知行国があれば、毎年別の国の受領を推挙・任命することになる）ために「年分受領」とも呼ばれるようになった。