权力 quánlì power
power; authority
How to remember 权力: 权 authority + 力 power = power.
Characters
How it is used
- Power/authority to command or control - 行使权力 (xíngshǐ quánlì) exercise power, 权力斗争 (quánlì dòuzhēng) power struggle.
- The authority to rule/decide over others; contrast 权利 (quánlì, same sound! but means 'rights' one is entitled to).
- This 权力/权利 homophone pair is a classic trap: 力 = power to control, 利 = rights/benefits owed to you.