Authority, Right
Interesting Fact
The ancient form 權 wasn't originally about political power. It was associated with a weighing weight used on a balance. Imagine an old merchant placing a weight on one side of a scale to determine how much something was worth. From this physical idea of weighing and judging, the character developed an abstract meaning: the power to make a judgment or decision. That is why 権 eventually came to mean authority, power, and rights. A simple object used for weighing goods became a symbol of who gets to decide.
Memory Trick
🌳🌲 All the trees(木) gathered(集), and the pine tree said, “I have the AUTHORITY to decide who gets cut!”—that’s 権!
Readings
Onyomi: ケン (ken), ゴン (gon)
Kunyomi:
Example Words
Example Sentence
誰にも自由に話す権利があります。
だれ にも じゆう に はなす けんり が あります。
dare ni mo jiyuu ni hanasu kenri ga arimasu
Everyone has the right to speak freely.