政権をとる

• Reading: せいけんをとる
• Romaji: seiken wo toru
• Kanji breakdown: 政 (sei) — government, politics; 権 (ken) — authority, power
• Pronunciation: /seː.keɴ.o.to.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To take power; to assume governmental authority. Used when a political party gains control of the government.

A set expression combining 政権 (seiken, political power) with とる (to take/grasp). Used when a political party or group gains governmental authority, typically through elections. A more forceful variant is 政権を握る (seiken wo nigiru, to seize power).

Examples

1. 野党が次の選挙で政権をとる可能性が高い。 There is a good chance the opposition party will take power in the next election.
2. その政党は十年ぶりに政権をとった。 That party took power for the first time in ten years.
3. 政権をとるためには国民の信頼が不可欠だ。 Public trust is essential to taking power.

Usage Guide

Context: elections, political commentary, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 政権 (seiken, political power) with とる (to take/grasp). A set political expression describing the act of gaining governmental control.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal