權力 / 权力
quánlì
The English word power is translated into Chinese as 權力 / 权力 (quánlì). Wiktionary also lists 權限 / 权限 (quánxiàn) and 勢力 / 势力 (shìlì).
Meaning: ability to affect or influence (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 權力 / 权力 | quánlì |
| 權限 / 权限 | quánxiàn |
| 勢力 / 势力 | shìlì |
| 势力 | shìli |
權力 / 权力 is the standard term used when discussing the abstract concept of power in political or legal contexts.
Which one should you use?
Use 權力 / 权力 (quánlì) to refer to the formal authority or political power held by an individual or institution. Use 權限 / 权限 (quánxiàn) to refer specifically to the limits or the scope of one's power/authority (e.g., 'beyond one's authority').
How do you pronounce it?
quánlì
Did you know?
- The word 權力 / 权力 (quánlì) shares the same sound as the word for 'rights' or 'interests' (權利 / 权利), but the characters for 'power' and 'rights' differ by only one stroke in the second character.
- The term 權力 / 权力 (quánlì) contains the character 權 (quán), which originally referred to a balanced scale or a weight used to measure items. This suggests that true power is inherently linked to the concept of measurement and balance.
- While English uses 'power' for both electricity and authority, Chinese uses entirely different words: 電力 (diànlì) for electrical power and 權力 (quánlì) for political power.
Examples in context
- 党为自己的利益追求势力。我们对别人不体贴；我们只追求势力。The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others, we are interested solely in power.This sentence is useful for illustrating how a group might pursue the concept of 势力.Tatoeba #8930163 by iiujik, translation #5687955 by Hybrid
- 他已经获得了巨大的权力。He has obtained immense power.
- 这个法律给予政府很大的支配权力。This law gives the government significant power to dominate.
- 他在这个圈子里有很大的权势。He has significant power and influence in this circle.
- 这个项目展示了他的锋芒。This project showcases his power and dominance.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “power” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
