About
The character 权, whose traditional form is 權, originally referred to a specific type of tree, but this meaning became obsolete. Its enduring meaning derives from the primary function of the object it came to represent: the steelyard, a type of balance scale used for weighing. The character's structure in its traditional form reflects this, combining the wood radical (木), indicating the instrument was made of wood, with the component 雚, which primarily served a phonetic function. From denoting the physical instrument of measurement, the meaning extended metaphorically to the abstract concepts of measurement and assessment, and then further to the power to judge, decide, or control, which is its core meaning today, encompassing authority, power, and rights.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有投票权。
权力必须受到监督。
每个人都享有平等的权利。
我们需要权衡利弊。
他的权威不容挑战。
公司授予他管理权限。
在民主国家，人民拥有主权。
法律保障公民的合法权益。