授权 (shòuquán)

授权 means to authorize or grant authority, referring to the act of giving someone official permission or delegating power to act on one's behalf.

Meanings

[verb] to authorize; to grant permission; to delegate authority
[noun] authorization; granted permission

Example Sentences

经理授权他处理这个紧急项目。 Jīnglǐ shòuquán tā chǔlǐ zhège jǐnjí xiàngmù. The manager authorized him to handle this urgent project.

没有授权，不能访问这些文件。 Méiyǒu shòuquán, bù néng fǎngwèn zhèxiē wénjiàn. Without authorization, these files cannot be accessed.

公司授权当地代理商销售产品。 Gōngsī shòuquán dāngdì dàilǐ shāng xiāoshòu chǎnpǐn. The company authorized the local agent to sell products.

他收到了上级的授权，可以独立签合同。 Tā shōudàole shàngjí de shòuquán, kěyǐ dúlì qiān hétong. He received authorization from his superior to sign contracts independently.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
获得授权	to obtain authorization
正式授权	official authorization
授权代理	to authorize an agent
未经授权	without authorization

Usage Notes

授权 is formal and commonly used in legal, business, and digital security contexts. In technology, it often refers to access control (authorizing a user). The structure 授权某人做某事 (to authorize someone to do something) is a common pattern. Its opposite is 未经授权 (unauthorized).

Memory Hook

授 means "to grant/bestow" and 权 means "authority/rights." So 授权 is to bestow authority: handing over the keys of power to someone.