权

權

quán

又 + 木

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

quán (noun) power; authority

quán (noun) right; privilege

quán (verb) to weigh; consider

Etymology

Simplified form of 權. Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 雚 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 雚

About

权 is the simplified form of 權. The traditional character is a phono-semantic compound: 木 (wood) conveys the meaning, and 雚 provides the sound. In the simplification, the phonetic 雚 was replaced by 又. The original meaning was a wooden weight used on a steelyard balance. From this physical act of weighing, the character's sense expanded to include abstract assessment of situations, and later to political power, authority, and legal or moral rights.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我有投票权。

Wǒ yǒu tóupiào quán.

I have the right to vote.

权力必须受到监督。

Quánlì bìxū shòudào jiāndū.

Power must be supervised.

每个人都享有平等的权利。

Měi gè rén dōu xiǎngyǒu píngděng de quánlì.

Everyone enjoys equal rights.

我们需要权衡利弊。

Wǒmen xūyào quánhéng lìbì.

We need to weigh the pros and cons.

他的权威不容挑战。

Tā de quánwēi bù róng tiǎozhàn.

His authority is not to be challenged.

公司授予他管理权限。

Gōngsī shòuyǔ tā guǎnlǐ quánxiàn.

The company granted him management permissions.

在民主国家，人民拥有主权。

Zài mínzhǔ guójiā, rénmín yōngyǒu zhǔquán.

In a democratic country, the people have sovereignty.

法律保障公民的合法权益。

Fǎlǜ bǎozhàng gōngmín de héfǎ quányì.

The law protects the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

Related Characters

Component: 又

Component: 木

权