权利

• Pinyin: quán lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 权 = 木 (wood) + 又 (hand, simplified) — a wooden balance scale, fairness and authority; 利 = 禾 (grain) + 刂 (knife) — harvesting profit, benefit

Meaning

Right; entitlement. A legal or moral right that a person is entitled to.

Refers to rights and entitlements in legal, political, and social contexts. Common phrases: 人权 (human rights), 合法权利 (legal rights), 受教育的权利 (the right to education), 维护权利 (defend one's rights). Important to distinguish from the homophone 权力 (quánlì, power/authority) — 权利 emphasises entitlement, while 权力 emphasises command and control.

Examples

1. 每个人都有受教育的权利。 Everyone has the right to receive an education.
2. 消费者的权利应该受到法律保护。 The rights of consumers should be protected by law.
3. 我们要学会用合法的方式维护自己的权利。 We should learn to defend our rights through legal means.

Usage Guide

Context: law, politics, education

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 公民有选举和被选举的权利。(Citizens have the right to vote and to stand for election.)
• 你有权利拒绝不合理的要求。(You have the right to refuse unreasonable demands.)

Don't Say

• 老板的权利很大 meaning the boss has great power (Don't confuse 权利 rights with 权力 power — if you mean the boss has authority, use 权力 instead)

Origin & History

A compound of 权 (authority, right — originally meaning a balance or scale, suggesting fairness) and 利 (benefit, interest), together meaning 'entitled benefit' — a right.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal