主 権(しゅけん)

しゅけん

noun

sovereignty

1. sovereignty; sovereign power; supreme authority

The supreme governing authority of a state or the ultimate power held by the people in a democratic system. A fundamental concept in political science and international law.

国(くに)の主権(しゅけん)を守(まも)る。

To protect the nation's sovereignty.

日本国憲法(にほんこくけんぽう)では主権(しゅけん)は国民(こくみん)にある。

Under the Japanese constitution, sovereignty lies with the people.

領土(りょうど)問題(もんだい)は国家(こっか)の主権(しゅけん)に関(かか)わる重大(じゅうだい)な問題(もんだい)であり、簡単(かんたん)には解決(かいけつ)できない。

Territorial issues are serious matters involving national sovereignty and cannot be easily resolved.

Usage

A compound of 主(しゅ) (main, master) + 権(けん) (right, authority). Central to Japanese civics education. The concept of 国民(こくみん)主権(しゅけん) (popular sovereignty) is one of the three pillars of the Japanese constitution.

Common collocations

国民(こくみん)主権(しゅけん) (popular sovereignty)
主権(しゅけん)を行使(こうし)する (to exercise sovereignty)
主権(しゅけん)国家(こっか) (sovereign state)
主権(しゅけん)を侵害(しんがい)する (to violate sovereignty)

Similar words

権力(けんりょく): power, authority — broader, not limited to nations
自治(じち): self-governance, autonomy — governance at a local level

Related Words

Compare: 権力(けんりょく) (power, authority)

Compare: 自治(じち) (self-governance, autonomy)

Compare: 支配権(しはいけん) (control)

Compare: 王権(おうけん) (royal authority)

general

Added 2026.3.21 10:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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