親権（しんけん、shinkeん）
- parental rights

The Japanese word 親権, read しんけん (shinken), refers to parental authority or parental rights. It encompasses the legal rights and responsibilities that parents have over their minor children (those under the age of 18 in Japan). This includes the right to make decisions regarding the child's upbringing, education, health, and welfare. The term is fundamentally about the legal framework governing the parent-child relationship, focusing on the parent's power and responsibility. This extends to the child's care and custody, and ensuring their well-being. ⚫︎ It is crucial in matters of divorce, adoption, and other legal proceedings involving children. ⚫︎ The concept ensures the child's rights are protected.

⚫︎ 離婚後、親権は母親に帰属した。 Translation: After the divorce, parental authority was granted to the mother. ⚫︎ 両親は子供の親権を巡って争った。 Translation: The parents fought over the parental rights of their child. ⚫︎ 親権停止の判決が出た。 Translation: A judgement of the suspension of parental authority was issued.

The word 親権 is primarily used in legal contexts, such as family law, divorce proceedings, and discussions about child custody. It's also used in discussions related to adoption and the rights and responsibilities of parents. You would typically use this word when discussing the legal aspects of raising a child, the authority parents have over their children, or when dealing with matters involving child welfare.

The word is typically written in kanji as 親権. The reading is しんけん (shinken) in hiragana. There are no other standard ways to write this word and no variations in the okurigana.

There aren't direct, one-word synonyms for 親権 in Japanese. The closest related terms would be: ⚫︎ 親の権利 (oya no kenri) - Parental rights. ⚫︎ 親の義務 (oya no gimu) - Parental obligations.

⚫︎ While there's no single perfect antonym, concepts like 親権停止 (shinken teishi) - Suspension of parental authority, or 親権喪失 (shinken sōshitsu) - Loss of parental authority, represent the absence or loss of parental rights.

裁判所は、父親に子供の親権を与える決定をした。 ・Translation: The court decided to grant the father parental rights over the child. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the court's role in determining who has 親権 in a legal dispute.

母親は、子供の親権を放棄することにした。 ・Translation: The mother decided to give up parental rights to her child. ・Explanation: This example shows the act of relinquishing 親権 and how it can be a legal decision.

The word 親権 is a compound word. 親 (oya) means "parent," and 権 (ken) means "right," "authority," or "power." Therefore, 親権 literally translates to "parental right" or "parental authority."