相联 (xiāng lián) — association, connection, correlation (between things)

Definition

A formal noun for an association or correlation between things — used in academic, scientific, and statistical contexts rather than everyday speech.

noun
associationconnectioncorrelation (between things)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 相联。
    Zhè liǎng gè gài niàn zhī jiān méi yǒu zhí jiē de xiāng lián.
    There is no direct association between these two concepts.
  • 相联。
    Yán jiū fā xiàn le shuì mián yǔ jì yì de xiāng lián.
    The study found a connection between sleep and memory.
  • 相联。
    Zhè zhǒng xiāng lián zài tǒng jì xué shàng fēi cháng xiǎn zhù.
    This association is statistically very significant.

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.

相xiāngmutually
联liánconnect

相 (mutually) describes 联 (connect), giving association or connection.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聯; 联 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 聯 combines 耳 (ear) and 絲 (silk); 联 is a simplified form of 聯.

Open 联 →

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