Meaning
authority; power; right
Chinese: 权力、权利或权衡。
Hear the Four Tones
The same syllable “quan” becomes a different word in each tone. 权 is the 2nd tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.
Stroke Order
Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.
Common Words
- 权利quán lìright (i.e. an entitlement to sth); (classical) power and wealth
- 权力quán lìpower; authority
- 权威quán wēiauthority; authoritative; power and prestige
- 权益quán yìrights; interests; rights and benefits
- 政权zhèng quánregime; political power
Example Sentence
每个人都有学习的权利。Měi ge rén dōu yǒu xué xí de quán lì.Everyone has the right to learn.
每个人Měi ge réneverybody都dōuall有yǒuto have学习xué xíto learn的deof权利quán lìright (i.e. an entitlement。
Go deeper
Where this character comes from
The wood radical 木 plus 又 (hand): originally a kind of tree, then the weight of a steelyard. It means ‘power, authority, a right; to weigh, assess; for the time being, expedient’ (权力, 权利, 权衡). Simplified from 權.
A way to remember it
From the steelyard's weight — to weigh; power, authority, a right.