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关系网 (guān xì wǎng) — relationship network (often implies using personal connections for unofficial benefits)

Definition

A 'relationship network' — the web of personal connections one draws on for favors, jobs, or influence. Often implies using 关系 for unofficial gain, rather than merit.

noun
relationship network (often implies using personal connections for unofficial benefits)
Measure word · 张

Examples

  • ，关系网。
    Zài zhè ge chéng shì, méi yǒu guān xì wǎng hěn nán zhǎo dào hǎo gōng zuò.
    In this city, it's hard to find a good job without a relationship network.
  • 关系网，。
    Tā kào guān xì wǎng ná dào le nà ge xiàng mù, bú shì kào shí lì.
    He got that project through his relationship network, not through his own ability.
  • 关系网。
    Fǔ bài cháng cháng hé fù zá de guān xì wǎng yǒu guān.
    Corruption is often linked to complex relationship networks.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

关系relationship
关guānlink系xìtie
联合Coordinate
网wǎngnet

关系 (connections) + 网 (net) pictures a web of personal connections.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
門門méndoor
Sound part声符shēngfú
𢇅
𢇅𢇅關guān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Open 关 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

系 is made by putting together 手 (hand) and 糸 (silk).

Open 系 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 網; 网 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
罔
罔wǎng網wǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 網 pairs 糸 (rope) with 罔 to give the sound; the simplified 网 is a later shorthand.

Open 网 →
Appears in
Friends & Social

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