权利 (quán lì) means 'right' or 'entitlement'—a legal, moral, or social claim to do, have, or be something. It combines 权 (quán), meaning 'power', 'authority', or 'control', and 利 (lì), meaning 'benefit', 'advantage', or 'interest'. Together, they convey the idea of a legitimate, often formally recognized, benefit or privilege granted to an individual or group.

This word is commonly used in formal, civic, and legal contexts—such as human rights (人权 rén quán), workers’ rights (劳工权利 láogōng quánlì), or consumer rights (消费者权利 xiāofèizhě quánlì). It appears frequently in official documents, news reports, and public discourse, and is rarely used in casual speech about personal preferences (e.g., you wouldn’t say 我有权利吃冰淇淋 for 'I have the right to eat ice cream' unless emphasizing a serious principle). Unlike the more general word 权 (quán) alone, 权利 always implies a justified, socially or legally sanctioned claim.