qīnquán: 侵权 - Infringement, Violation of Rights

• Keywords: qinquan, 侵权, infringe on rights Chinese, copyright infringement Chinese, intellectual property China, plagiarism Chinese, patent violation, what is qinquan, violate rights in Chinese, legal Chinese terms
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 侵权 (qīnquán), the essential Chinese legal term for “infringement” or the “violation of rights.” This comprehensive guide explains its use in contexts like copyright, intellectual property (IP), patents, and personal rights in modern China. Learn the character breakdown, cultural significance, and see practical example sentences to understand how 侵权 is used in business, online, and in daily life.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): qīnquán
• Part of Speech: Verb / Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: To unlawfully encroach upon or violate the legal rights of another.
• In a Nutshell: 侵权 (qīnquán) is the direct, often legalistic, term for crossing a line and violating someone's established rights. Think of it as the legal concept of trespassing, but instead of land, you are trespassing on someone's rights—like their right to their own invention (patent), their creative work (copyright), their brand name (trademark), or even their reputation.

• 侵 (qīn): This character means “to invade,” “to encroach,” or “to aggress.” The left side (亻) is the “person” radical, indicating the action is done by a person. The right side is a phonetic component that also carries the idea of sweeping or advancing.
• 权 (quán): This character means “right,” “power,” or “authority.” The left side (木) is the “wood” radical. The character can be conceptually linked to a weighing scale's beam, which was made of wood and represents balance, authority, and what is rightfully due.
• Together, 侵权 (qīnquán) literally means “to invade a right,” a perfect and direct description of infringement.

While the concept of causing harm has always existed in China, the Western-style legal concept of individual “rights” (权利, quánlì), especially intellectual property rights, is a more modern development. Historically, Confucian-influenced culture often prioritized collective harmony and relationships over individual claims. However, since China's economic reforms and entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the term 侵权 (qīnquán) has become incredibly important. The government has built a massive legal framework to protect intellectual property, and public awareness of personal rights (like privacy and reputation) is growing rapidly. Therefore, 侵权 (qīnquán) is a powerful lens through which to view modern China's transformation. It represents the shift from a relationship-based society to one that is increasingly governed by codified laws and an international standard of rights. Unlike the American context, where “suing for infringement” has a long history, in China, it's a newer but explosive phenomenon, especially visible in online disputes over content creation, plagiarism, and brand imitation.

侵权 is primarily a formal and legal term, but its usage has spread into semi-formal and online contexts.

• Legal & Business: This is its most common home. You will see it in contracts, court filings, cease-and-desist letters, and business negotiations regarding patents and trademarks. It is precise and serious.
• Online & Social Media: Extremely common. Netizens will use 侵权 to call out plagiarism (抄袭), the use of their photos or artwork without permission, or the creation of pirated content (盗版). It's the go-to word for “You're stealing my stuff online!” in a way that implies a violation of rights.
• Personal Complaints: While less common in casual chat, a person might use it to describe a serious violation of their personal space or reputation, such as a landlord entering without notice or someone spreading damaging rumors.

• Example 1:
  • 这个网站侵权了，他们未经授权就使用了我的照片。
  • Pinyin: Zhège wǎngzhàn qīnquán le, tāmen wèi jīng shòuquán jiù shǐyòngle wǒ de zhàopiàn.
  • English: This website infringed on my rights; they used my photos without authorization.
  • Analysis: A very common complaint in the digital age. Here, 侵权 is used as a verb, “to infringe.”
• Example 2:
  • 使用盗版软件是一种侵权行为。
  • Pinyin: Shǐyòng dàobǎn ruǎnjiàn shì yī zhǒng qīnquán xíngwéi.
  • English: Using pirated software is an act of infringement.
  • Analysis: Here, 侵权 is used as a noun, modifying “行为 (xíngwéi),” meaning “act” or “behavior.”
• Example 3:
  • 该公司因侵权我们的专利而被起诉。
  • Pinyin: Gāi gōngsī yīn qīnquán wǒmen de zhuānlì ér bèi qǐsù.
  • English: That company was sued for infringing on our patent.
  • Analysis: This sentence showcases the formal, legal use of the term in a business context.
• Example 4:
  • 在网上散布谣言侵权了他人的名誉权。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǎngshàng sànbù yáoyán qīnquán le tārén de míngyùquán.
  • English: Spreading rumors online infringes upon another person's right to their reputation.
  • Analysis: This shows that 侵权 isn't just for property; it also applies to abstract personal rights like “名誉权 (míngyùquán),” the right to one's reputation.
• Example 5:
  • 他的毕业论文被发现严重侵权，基本上都是抄袭的。
  • Pinyin: Tā de bìyè lùnwén bèi fāxiàn yánzhòng qīnquán, jīběn shàng dōu shì chāoxí de.
  • English: His graduation thesis was found to have seriously infringed; it was basically all plagiarized.
  • Analysis: Plagiarism (抄袭, chāoxí) is a specific type of 侵权. This sentence shows how the two concepts are linked.
• Example 6:
  • 如果你认为这侵权了，你可以联系我们的法务部门。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ rènwéi zhè qīnquán le, nǐ kěyǐ liánxì wǒmen de fǎwù bùmén.
  • English: If you believe this constitutes infringement, you can contact our legal department.
  • Analysis: A typical sentence you might find in a website's terms of service.
• Example 7:
  • 我们必须尊重知识产权，避免任何侵权问题。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìxū zūnzhòng zhīshi chǎnquán, bìmiǎn rènhé qīnquán wèntí.
  • English: We must respect intellectual property and avoid any infringement issues.
  • Analysis: Shows 侵权 used as a noun in the phrase “侵权问题” (infringement issues).
• Example 8:
  • 这家山寨公司的产品从设计到商标都构成了侵权。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shānzhài gōngsī de chǎnpǐn cóng shèjì dào shāngbiāo dōu gòuchéngle qīnquán.
  • English: The products of this copycat company constitute an infringement in everything from design to trademark.
  • Analysis: “构成侵权 (gòuchéng qīnquán)” is a formal way to say “constitutes infringement.”
• Example 9:
  • 律师发来了一封警告信，指控我们侵权。
  • Pinyin: Lǜshī fālái le yī fēng jǐnggào xìn, zhǐkòng wǒmen qīnquán.
  • English: The lawyer sent a warning letter, accusing us of infringement.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a common real-world consequence of being perceived to have committed 侵权.
• Example 10:
  • 你觉得这种二次创作算侵权吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde zhè zhǒng èrcì chuàngzuò suàn qīnquán ma?
  • English: Do you think this kind of derivative work (fan art/fiction) counts as infringement?
  • Analysis: A great example of a modern debate. “二次创作 (èrcì chuàngzuò)” refers to fan-made creations, and whether they constitute fair use or 侵权 is a hot topic online.

• 侵权 (qīnquán) vs. 违法 (wéifǎ): A common point of confusion. 违法 (wéifǎ) means “illegal” or “to break the law” in a very general sense. All 侵权 is 违法, but not all 违法 is 侵权. For example, speeding is 违法, but it's not 侵权 because you aren't violating a specific person's rights. 侵权 is a specific type of illegal act that targets someone's rights.
• 侵权 (qīnquán) vs. 伤害 (shānghài): 伤害 (shānghài) means “to harm” or “to injure,” physically or emotionally. While an act of 侵权 can cause 伤害 (e.g., financial harm from piracy), the words are not interchangeable. You would not say someone “infringed your feelings” (侵权你的感情). 侵权 is the legal action; 伤害 is the resulting damage.
• Incorrect Usage: Do not use 侵权 for general rude behavior. Someone cutting in line is rude (不礼貌, bù lǐmào) or uncivilized (不文明, bù wénmíng), but it is not 侵权. The term requires the violation of a legally or formally recognized right.

• 权利 (quánlì) - Rights. The core concept that is violated in an act of 侵权.
• 知识产权 (zhīshi chǎnquán) - Intellectual Property (IP). A major category of rights that are protected from 侵权.
• 版权 (bǎnquán) - Copyright. A specific right related to creative works. Infringing it is 侵犯版权 (qīnfàn bǎnquán).
• 专利 (zhuānlì) - Patent. A right related to an invention.
• 商标 (shāngbiāo) - Trademark. A right related to a brand's name or logo.
• 抄袭 (chāoxí) - To plagiarize. A very common method of committing copyright 侵权.
• 盗版 (dàobǎn) - Piracy / pirated goods. The illegal products that result from copyright 侵权.
• 违法 (wéifǎ) - Illegal; to break the law. The broader category under which 侵权 falls.
• 名誉权 (míngyùquán) - The right to one's reputation. Defamation is an 侵权 of this right.
• 隐私权 (yǐnsīquán) - The right to privacy. Doxxing or unlawful surveillance is an 侵权 of this right.