关联

• Pinyin: guān lián
• Hanzi breakdown: 关 = to relate or be concerned with; 联 = 耳 (ear) + 关 (phonetic), meaning to link or unite

Meaning

To be related; to be connected; to link. Having a logical or causal connection between things.

Describes connections between ideas, events, or entities. Common collocations: 相互关联 (mutually related), 关联性 (relatedness), 关联交易 (related-party transaction, in business). More formal and analytical than 有关系 (have a relationship). Often used in technical, academic, or business contexts.

Examples

1. 研究发现，睡眠质量与心理健康密切关联。 Research has found that sleep quality is closely linked to mental health.
2. 这两起案件看似独立，实际上却有着千丝万缕的关联。 These two cases appear independent, but they actually have countless connections.
3. 上市公司必须披露所有关联交易，以保护投资者利益。 Listed companies must disclose all related-party transactions to protect investor interests.

Usage Guide

Context: research, analysis, business

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 这两件事有什么关联吗？(Is there any connection between these two things?)
• 这些数据之间存在关联。(There is a correlation among these data points.)

Don't Say

• 用关联形容人际关系 (For personal relationships, use 关系 or 联系, not 关联 — it's too technical)

Origin & History

Compound of 关 (to connect, to relate) + 联 (to link, to unite). Both characters emphasize connection, making this a formal term for relatedness or linkage.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal