rightful

Compared meaning: allowed or recognized by law (adjective).

比较义项：合法的（形容词）。

• legitimate

  Describes something (a reason, claim, or action) that is valid and acceptable under law or accepted rules; neutral, everyday register, often paired with abstract nouns like reason, concern, or claim.

  形容某事（理由、要求、行为等）在法律或公认规则下是有效、可接受的；语域中性、日常，常与 reason（理由）、concern（担忧）、claim（主张）等抽象名词搭配。

  He raised a legitimate concern that no one had thought of before.

  他提出了一个此前没人想到的合理担忧。

• rightful 本词

  Describes someone's legal or moral entitlement to a specific person, thing, or position; typically modifies nouns like owner, heir, or place, emphasizing that this person deserves or is entitled to it.

  指某人在法律或道德上对某个人、某物或某个位置拥有应得的权利；常用于修饰 owner（所有者）、heir（继承人）、place（位置）等名词，强调这个人理应拥有或占据它。

  The court ruled she was the rightful owner of the house.

  法院裁定她是这栋房子的合法所有者。

• lawful

  Formal register meaning permitted or recognized by law; often used for official actions, orders, or regulations (a lawful order, lawful authority), focusing on compliance with the law itself rather than fairness.

  语域正式，指被法律允许或认可；常用于官方行为、命令或规定（lawful order 合法命令、lawful authority 合法权力），侧重于是否符合法律本身，而不是是否公平。

  Police officers must obey a lawful order from their superior.

  警察必须服从上级下达的合法命令。

Legitimate, rightful, and lawful all mean allowed by law, but differ: legitimate describes a reason, claim, or action that is valid and accepted. Rightful describes someone's legal or moral right to a person, thing, or position. Lawful is formal, used for official actions and orders.

这三个词在“合法的”这一意义上很接近，但侧重点不同：legitimate 强调理由、要求等被普遍认为合理正当；rightful 强调对某人、某物拥有法律或道德上应有的权利；lawful 语气更正式，多用于法律、规章等官方场合，强调符合法律规定。