The kanji 権 represents "authority," "power," "right," or "influence." It often implies a legitimate or recognized power, whether it be political, legal, or social. It suggests the ability to make decisions, enforce rules, or exert control over others. The meaning encompasses both the concept of having power and the recognized legitimacy of that power. It also extends to rights or entitlements.

・On-yomi (音読み): ケン(ken) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): None

⚫︎権利(けんり) Translation: right; privilege; claim; title ⚫︎権力(けんりょく) Translation: power; authority; influence ⚫︎人権(じんけん) Translation: human rights

The kanji 権 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left side is 木 (ki, "tree" or "wood") which acts as the semantic component, hinting at the idea of a "support" or "base." The right side is 雚 (kan), which is the phonetic component, indicating the sound. The original meaning might have been related to a "weight" or a measuring tool, which gradually evolved to encompass the meaning of authority, power, and influence, implying the ability to "weigh" or "measure" something, and thus, to decide. The structure therefore suggests that authority or power is like the firm base provided by a tree.