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HSK 3

关系

relationship; connection; relation

nounneutral
关
guān1st tone
系
xì4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
guānxi
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 3
Strokes
13
Register
neutral
Measure word
种 / 层

Stroke order for 关系

关系 is written with 13 strokes (关: 6, 系: 7). The animation replays automatically.

What does 关系 mean?

关系 (guānxi) means a 'relationship' or 'connection' between people, things, or ideas.

It covers personal relationships (我们关系很好 — we have a good relationship), family or work ties (师生关系 — teacher-student relationship), and abstract logical connections (有关系 — to be related, 没关系 — it doesn't matter / no problem). The 系 is neutral tone (guānxi), and the fixed phrase 没关系 ('no problem / it's okay') is one of the first expressions learners meet.

Culturally, 关系 famously refers to the network of personal connections (guanxi) that smooths business, government, and favors in Chinese society — but in daily speech it's used just as broadly and neutrally as English 'relationship.' Use 关系 for any kind of link; only context tells you whether it means a friendship, a logical relation, or social networking.

Note: In business and political contexts, 关系 carries the famous cultural connotation of personal connections used to get things done. In everyday speech, it just means 'relationship' or 'connection' in any sense.

Character by character

关guānto close; pass; barrier; involve
+
系xìto tie; connect; department (neutral tone here)
=
关系

Memory hook: 关 'connect / involve' + 系 'tie' — what ties and involves people together: a relationship.

Example sentences

没关系，下次再说。

Méi guānxi, xià cì zài shuō.

It's okay, let's talk about it next time.

spoken

我和他的关系很好。

Wǒ hé tā de guānxi hěn hǎo.

I have a very good relationship with him.

spoken

这件事跟我没有关系。

Zhè jiàn shì gēn wǒ méiyǒu guānxi.

This matter has nothing to do with me.

neutral

他们是什么关系？

Tāmen shì shénme guānxi?

What is the relationship between them?

spoken

Common phrases with 关系

没关系méi guānxiit doesn't matter; no problem
有关系yǒu guānxito be related; to matter
关系好guānxi hǎoto have a good relationship
人际关系rénjì guānxiinterpersonal relationships
和…的关系hé... de guānxithe relationship with...

Synonyms

联系liánxì

联系 means 'contact / connection (in touch)' — as both a verb (我联系你 — I'll contact you) and a noun (保持联系 — keep in touch). 关系 is the static state of being related; 联系 is the act of maintaining contact.

感情gǎnqíng

感情 means 'feelings / emotional bond' between people. 关系 describes the structural relationship; 感情 describes the emotional warmth. 我们关系好 (we're on good terms) vs 我们感情好 (we feel close to each other).

Don't confuse 关系 with

关心guānxīn

关心 (verb) means 'to care about' someone. 关系 (noun) means a 'relationship.' 我关心你 (I care about you) vs 我们的关系 (our relationship). Same first character, very different roles.

关于guānyú

关于 is the preposition 'about / regarding' (关于这件事 — about this matter). 关系 is a noun meaning relationship. Don't say 关系这件事; say 关于这件事.

FAQ

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