権限

• Reading: けんげん
• Romaji: kengen
• Kanji breakdown: 権 (ken) — right, authority; 限 (gen) — limit, boundary
• Pronunciation: /ke.n.ge.n/

Meaning

Power; authority; jurisdiction; the right to make decisions or take action.

A noun describing the officially granted right or power to do something. Common in legal, governmental, and corporate contexts. Often paired with がある (to have authority) or を与える (to grant authority). Also used in IT for access permissions.

Examples

1. この件について決定する権限がない。 I don't have the authority to make a decision on this matter.
2. 部長に予算の権限が与えられた。 The department head was given authority over the budget.
3. 管理者の権限でファイルを削除した。 I deleted the file using administrator privileges.

Usage Guide

Context: law, business, IT

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 権 (right, authority) and 限 (limit, boundary). Together they describe the bounded scope of power or authority one possesses.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal