全权代表 (quán quán dài biǎo) — plenipotentiary, authorized representative with full powers

Definition

A formal diplomatic term for a representative with full delegated authority — stronger than a regular 代表. Used in treaties, negotiations, and international affairs.

noun
plenipotentiary, authorized representative with full powers
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 全权代表。
    Zhè wèi quán quán dài biǎo jiāng zài lián hé guó dà huì shàng fā yán.
    This plenipotentiary will speak at the UN General Assembly.
  • 全权代表。
    Liǎng guó quán quán dài biǎo qiān shǔ le hé píng xié yì.
    The plenipotentiaries of the two countries signed a peace agreement.
  • 全权代表。
    Zhèng fǔ rèn mìng tā wèi mào yì tán pàn de quán quán dài biǎo.
    The government appointed him as the plenipotentiary for trade negotiations.

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.

全权full powers
全quánfull权quánpower
偏正Modifier + head
代表representative
代dàirepresent表biǎoexpress
联合Side by side

The idea of '全权' as full powers combines with '代表' as representative to mean one with full powers.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →

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 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape 表 pairs 衣 (garment) with 毛 (hair or feather), originally an outer garment.

Open 表 →

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