関係

• Reading: かんけい
• Romaji: kankei
• Kanji breakdown: 関 (kan/seki) — barrier, connection, concern; 係 (kei/kakari) — relate, concern, person in charge
• Pronunciation: /ka.n.ke.i/

Meaning

Relation; relationship; connection. A link or association between people or things.

Functions as a noun or する verb (関係する). Extremely versatile — used for personal relationships (人間関係 = human relations), relevance (関係がある = is related to), and in the phrase 関係ない (irrelevant, none of one's business). One of the most common abstract nouns in Japanese.

Examples

1. 二つの国の関係は最近よくなった。 The relationship between the two countries has recently improved.
2. この問題は私には関係ありません。 This problem has nothing to do with me.
3. 友達との関係を大切にしています。 I value my relationships with friends.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, business, news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 関 (barrier, connection, concern) and 係 (relate to, concern, person in charge). Both characters involve connection and involvement, forming a word about linkage.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal