裙带关系 (qún dài guān jì) — (derogatory) nepotism, cronyism (using family connections for personal gain)

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'nepotism, cronyism' — using family or close ties to get jobs, promotions, or favors, especially in a workplace. Always carries a negative tone, implying unfairness over merit.

noun
(derogatory) nepotismcronyism (using family connections for personal gain)

Examples

  • 裙带关系，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī de qún dài guān jì wèn tí hěn yán zhòng, zhēn zhèng yǒu cái huá de rén hěn nán shēng zhí.
    This company has a serious problem with nepotism — truly talented people find it hard to get promoted.
  • ，裙带关系。
    Tā méi yǒu zhēn cái shí xué, quán kào qún dài guān jì dāng shàng le chù zhǎng.
    He has no real ability; he became a division head entirely through nepotism.
  • 裙带关系，。
    Zhǐ yào xiāo chú qún dài guān jì, qǐ yè jiù néng xī yǐn gèng duō yōu xiù rén cái.
    As long as they eliminate nepotism, the company can attract more outstanding talent.

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.

裙带skirt ties
裙qúnskirt带dàitie
联合Side by side
关系connection
关guānconnection系xìtie
联合Side by side

裙带 evokes women's skirt ties, and 关系 means connections; together they suggest nepotism.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothing
Sound part声符shēngfú
君
君jūn裙qún
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

裙 pairs 衤, a narrow form of 衣 meaning clothing, with 君, which gives the sound.

Open 裙 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 帶; 带 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 帶 was drawn as a woven belt; the simplified 带 is a later shorthand.

Open 带 →

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 →

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