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主动权 (zhǔ dòng quán) — initiative; the right or power to take the initiative

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'the initiative' — the power or upper hand that lets you act first and control the situation. Almost always paired with verbs like 掌握, 把握, or 失去 (gain/keep/lose).

noun
initiativethe right or power to take the initiative

Examples

  • 主动权，。
    Shuí zhǎng wò zhǔ dòng quán, shuí jiù néng zhǔ dǎo tán pàn de jìn chéng.
    Whoever holds the initiative can control the course of the negotiations.
  • ，主动权。
    Zài shì chǎng jìng zhēng zhōng, jì shù lǐng xiān de qǐ yè wǎng wǎng zhǎng wò zhǔ dòng quán.
    In market competition, technologically leading companies often hold the initiative.
  • 主动权，。
    Tā zài biàn lùn zhōng shǐ zhōng láo láo bǎ wò zhù zhǔ dòng quán, ràng duì fāng wú fǎ fǎn bó.
    He firmly kept the initiative throughout the debate, leaving his opponent unable to refute him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

主动
主zhǔmain动dòngaction
偏正Modifier + head
权quánright

主动 points to taking the lead in action, and 权 adds right, giving the right to lead.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 權; 权 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn權quán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 權 shows 木, a tree, with 雚 giving the sound; it named a kind of tree and was used for a standard weight. The simplified 权 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 权 →
Appears in
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