相关

• Pinyin: xiāng guān
• Hanzi breakdown: 相 = 木 (tree) + 目 (eye); 关 = simplified from 關, originally depicting a gate bolt

Meaning

Related; relevant; to be connected with. Describes a relationship or connection between things.

Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to indicate a connection between topics, issues, or entities. Often appears in combinations like 相关部门 (relevant department), 相关信息 (related information), or 与...相关 (related to...). More formal than 有关系.

Examples

1. 这两件事是相关的，不能分开看。 These two matters are related and cannot be viewed separately.
2. 请提供与此相关的材料。 Please provide materials related to this.
3. 他在网上查了很多相关信息。 He looked up a lot of related information online.

Usage Guide

Context: work, academic, news

Tone: informative

Do Say

• 这和我们讨论的问题相关。(This is related to the issue we are discussing.)
• 相关部门已经开始调查了。(The relevant departments have already begun investigating.)

Don't Say

• 我和他很相关。(Don't use 相关 for personal relationships — use 关系好 or 有关系 instead. 相关 is for topical or factual connections.)

Origin & History

相 means 'mutually' and 关 means 'connection' or 'gate'. Together they express a mutual connection or relationship between things.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal