权衡 (quánhéng) — to weigh, to balance

权衡 (quánhéng)

权衡 means to weigh or balance competing options, interests, or factors carefully before making a decision. It comes from the image of a balance scale (权 is a unit of weight, 衡 is the beam of a scale), and implies careful, rational deliberation. It is used in decision-making contexts ranging from personal choices to policy analysis.

Meanings

1. [v] to weigh; to balance; to carefully consider multiple factors
2. [v] to deliberate; to assess the pros and cons of competing options

Example Sentences

政策制定者在推行改革时必须权衡经济效益与社会公平。 Zhèngcè zhìdìngzhě zài tuīxíng gǎigé shí bìxū quánhéng jīngjì xiàoyì yǔ shèhuì gōngpíng. Policymakers must weigh economic efficiency against social equity when implementing reforms.

面对两难困境，他反复权衡，最终选择了对集体最有利的方案。 Miànduì liǎngnán kùnjìng, tā fǎnfù quánhéng, zuìzhōng xuǎnzéle duì jítǐ zuì yǒulì de fāng'àn. Facing a dilemma, he weighed the options repeatedly and ultimately chose the solution most beneficial to the group.

投资决策需要在风险与回报之间进行审慎的权衡。 Tóuzī juécè xūyào zài fēngxiǎn yǔ huíbào zhījiān jìnxíng shěnshèn de quánhéng. Investment decisions require careful balancing of risk and return.

立法机关在制定隐私法时需权衡个人自由与公共安全的边界。 Lìfǎ jīguān zài zhìdìng yǐnsīfǎ shí xū quánhéng gèrén zìyóu yǔ gōnggòng ānquán de biānjiè. Legislatures need to balance individual freedom and public safety when enacting privacy laws.

她在留学与就业之间权衡了很久，最终决定先积累工作经验。 Tā zài liúxué yǔ jiùyè zhījiān quánhéngle hěn jiǔ, zuìzhōng juédìng xiān jīlěi gōngzuò jīngyàn. She weighed studying abroad against employment for a long time, ultimately deciding to accumulate work experience first.

任何资源分配方案都涉及不同群体利益的权衡与取舍。 Rènhé zīyuán fēnpèi fāng'àn dōu shèjí bùtóng qúntǐ lìyì de quánhéng yǔ qǔshě. Any resource allocation plan involves the balancing and trade-offs of different group interests.

Collocations

Usage Notes

权衡 is both a verb and an implicit metaphor for rational deliberation. The phrase 权衡利弊 (to weigh the pros and cons) is one of the most common collocations and is used widely in everyday and formal contexts. 权衡取舍 (to weigh and choose — implying trade-offs) is also important in policy and decision-making discourse.

Unlike 考虑 (kǎolǜ, to consider), 权衡 specifically implies competing factors or interests that must be balanced against each other. It is more formal and carries the sense of rational calculation. In economics and policy, it is often used to translate the concept of "trade-off." The verb can take a direct object (权衡利弊) or appear in structures like 在…与…之间权衡 (to weigh between A and B).

Memory Hook

权 (weight, steelyard) + 衡 (balance beam): the original Chinese balance scale — "placing options on a scale and seeing which side tips."