Chinese word

权力

Pronunciation

Pinyinquán lì

Meaning

  • nounpower

Example

人们担心权力会被滥用。rén men dān xīn quán lì huì bèi làn yòng

People worry that power will be abused.

Illustration for 权力 (power)

More examples

制衡机制可以防止权力被滥用。zhì héng jī zhì ké yǐ fáng zhǐ quán lì bèi làn yòng

Checks and balances can prevent power from being abused.

Core concept

Authority that operates through an organization or state to shape decisions, commands, and resources.

Common phrases

  • 滥用权力làn yòng quán lì

    abuse power

  • 掌握权力zhǎng wò quán lì

    wield power

  • 限制权力xiàn zhì quán lì

    limit power

Similar words

权威quán wēi: Influence and respect that society recognizes because of status, knowledge, or skill.
影响力yíng xiǎng lì: The ability to affect how other people think or act.
权限quán xiàn: An official right to carry out certain actions within a job or system.
势力shì lì: The political or social force and influence held by a group.

Definition in Chinese

在组织或国家中，能够制定决策、发号施令或支配资源的权威和实际作用。zài zǔ zhī huò guó jiā zhōng néng gòu zhì dìng jué cè fā hào shī lìng huò zhī pèi zī yuán de quán wēi hé shí jì zuò yòng

Word origin

权 (quán, "authority") + 力 (lì, "force") forms 权力 (quánlì, "power"), linking the authority to decide with the capacity to put decisions into effect.

Usage tips

  • This noun can describe authority attached to an official position, even when no single person is giving an order at that moment.

Related words

  • 权力结构quán lì jié gòupower structurenoun
  • 权力关系quán lì guān xìpower relationsnoun
  • 权力意识quán lì yì shípower awarenessnoun

Word lists with this word