‘政权’ (zhèng quán) literally combines ‘政’ (zhèng), meaning ‘government’, ‘politics’, or ‘affairs of state’, and ‘权’ (quán), meaning ‘power’, ‘authority’, or ‘right’. Together, they refer to the institutional power structure that governs a country or region — i.e., the ruling authority or regime. It emphasizes formal, organized political control, not just abstract influence or personal clout.

This term is commonly used in historical, political, and journalistic contexts — for example, when discussing transitions of power, legitimacy of rule, or stability of governance. It carries neutral-to-formal register; while not inherently negative, it often appears in serious or analytical discourse (e.g., ‘政权更迭’ — regime change). Unlike colloquial terms like ‘政府’ (government agency), ‘政权’ highlights sovereignty and the foundational source of political authority.