生存权 (shēng cún quán) — right to subsistence; right to basic living conditions

Definition

A formal/legal term for the right to subsistence — the basic right to live and meet essential needs. Pairs naturally with 发展权 (right to development) in discussions of human rights.

noun
right to subsistenceright to basic living conditions

Examples

  • 生存权。
    shēng cún quán Shì zuì jī běn de rén quán zhī yī.
    The right to subsistence is one of the most basic human rights.
  • 生存权。
    Zhèng fǔ bì xū bǎo zhàng měi gè rén de shēng cún quán.
    The government must guarantee everyone's right to subsistence.
  • 生存权。
    Fā zhǎn quán yǔ shēng cún quán tóng yàng zhòng yào.
    The right to development is just as important as the right to subsistence.

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.

生存survival/existence
生shēnglive存cúnexist
联合Side by side
权quánright

生存 gives living/existence, 权 gives right, together right to life.

Characters in this word

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

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
子子zǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
才
才cái存cún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

存 pairs 子 with 才, which was used for the sound.

Open 存 →

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 →

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