权利 (quánlì) — right, entitlement
HSK 5 | noun | a legal or moral entitlement that a person is owed
权利 (quánlì)
A legal or moral entitlement that an individual or group possesses -- the right to do something or to be treated in a certain way, as guaranteed by law or ethics.
Meanings
- [noun] right, entitlement, legal right
Example Sentences
每个公民都有接受教育的基本权利。 Měi gè gōngmín dōu yǒu jiēshòu jiàoyù de jīběn quánlì. Every citizen has the basic right to receive education.
法律明确保障了劳动者的合法权利。 Fǎlǜ míngquè bǎozhàngle láodòngzhě de héfǎ quánlì. The law clearly protects the legal rights of workers.
消费者有权利要求退款或换货。 Xiāofèizhě yǒu quánlì yāoqiú tuìkuǎn huò huànhuò. Consumers have the right to demand a refund or exchange.
保护人权是国际社会的共同责任。 Bǎohù rénquán shì guójì shèhuì de gòngtóng zérèn. Protecting human rights is a shared responsibility of the international community.
她坚持维护自己的知识产权，不允许他人侵犯。 Tā jiānchí wéihù zìjǐ de zhīshí chǎnquán, bù yǔnxǔ tārén qīnfàn. She insists on protecting her intellectual property rights and does not allow others to infringe on them.
联合国《世界人权宣言》列举了每个人应享有的基本权利。 Liánhéguó "Shìjiè Rénquán Xuānyán" lièjǔle měi gè rén yīng xiǎngyǒu de jīběn quánlì. The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights enumerates the basic rights that every person should enjoy.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 基本权利 (jīběn quánlì) | basic rights |
| 维护权利 (wéihù quánlì) | to defend/protect rights |
| 知识产权 (zhīshí chǎnquán) | intellectual property rights |
| 人权 (rénquán) | human rights |
| 侵犯权利 (qīnfàn quánlì) | to violate rights |
| 合法权利 (héfǎ quánlì) | legal rights |
Usage Notes
权利 (rights/entitlements) must be carefully distinguished from its near-homophone 权力 (quánlì, power/authority). Though identical in pronunciation, their meanings are opposite in social register: 权利 is what citizens or individuals are owed; 权力 is the power or authority that institutions or officials hold. Confusing them is a very common learner error.
A useful test: if you can substitute "power" in English, use 权力. If you can substitute "rights," use 权利.
Memory Hook
Both 权利 and 权力 share 权 (rights/authority). The key is the second character: 利 (benefit/profit) -- rights are the benefits you are owed. 力 (strength/force) -- power is the force you wield. Rights benefit you; power enables you.