拒否権

• Reading: きょひけん
• Romaji: kyohiken
• Kanji breakdown: 拒 (kyo) — refuse, reject; 否 (hi) — negate, deny; 権 (ken) — right, authority
• Pronunciation: /kʲo.çi.ken/

Meaning

Veto power; right of veto. The authority to block or reject a decision or resolution.

A noun referring to the power to unilaterally reject a proposal or resolution. In international politics, 拒否権 most commonly refers to the UN Security Council veto held by the P5 permanent members. In domestic politics and corporate law it can refer to blocking powers held by certain stakeholders. Collocates with 行使する (exercise), 発動する (invoke), and 持つ (possess).

Examples

1. 常任理事国が拒否権を行使したため、決議は採択されなかった。 Because a permanent member exercised its veto power, the resolution was not adopted.
2. 拒否権の存在が、安保理改革の最大の障壁となっている。 The existence of the veto power has become the greatest obstacle to Security Council reform.
3. 株主協定により、少数株主にも重要事項への拒否権が与えられた。 Under the shareholder agreement, minority shareholders were also granted veto power over important matters.

Usage Guide

Context: international relations, law, politics, corporate

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 拒否 (kyohi, rejection/refusal) — 拒 (refuse) + 否 (deny/negate) — and 権 (ken, right/authority). The concept was introduced to Japanese political vocabulary alongside the founding of the United Nations in 1945.

Cultural Context

Era: Post-WWII–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal