Definition
权 (quán) as a noun means 'power/authority' or 'right', but these senses are usually expressed by the compounds 权力 (power) and 权利 (right) — 权 alone appears in formal writing or set phrases. As a literary adverb (e.g. 权当), it means 'temporarily, as an expedient', more formal than 暂时 and distinct from 临时 ('at the last moment').
powerauthorityright (legal or moral entitlement)(adverb, literary) temporarilyfor the time beingas an expedient
Easily confused
- 双shuānglook-alike(classifier) pair (for things that come in twos: shoes, socks, hands, etc.)
- 全quánsound-alike(adjective) whole; entire; all
- 反fǎnlook-alike(adjective / adverb) opposite; contrary; in reverse
- 拳quánsound-alikefist
- 枝zhīlook-alike(noun) branch
- 劝quànsound-aliketo urge, to try to persuade
- 券quànsound-alike(noun) ticket, voucher, coupon
Examples
- 。Fǎlǜ bǎozhàng měi ge rén de héfǎ quán yì.The law protects everyone's lawful rights and interests.
- 。Zǒng jīnglǐ xiǎng bǎ gèng duō quán lì jiāo gěi bùmén jīnglǐ.The general manager wants to delegate more power to department managers.
- ,权,。Jìrán méi yǒu piào, nǐ jiù quán dāng lái wǎn le, xià cì zǎo diǎn lái.Since there's no ticket, just consider it as arriving late, and come earlier next time.
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