系 xì — be; connection; relation; tie up; bind; be
他在大学读中文系。Tā zài dà xué dú Zhōng wén xì.He studies in the Chinese department at university.
Common words: 没关系 (méi guān xi)、关系 (guān xi)、联系 (lián xì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "relation"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "relation", including 系 (xì), 亲 (qīn / qìng). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "relation" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 系 (xì), 亲 (qīn / qìng) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span xì, qīn, qìng — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 系 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 系 xìbe; connection; relation; tie up; bind; beUseful words: 没关系, 关系
- 亲 qīn / qìngdear; intimate; parent; relation; closely related; parents-in-law of one's offspringUseful words: 父亲, 母亲
Common words for these 2 "relation" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 系 (xì) — so "relation" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "relation".
亲 qīn / qìng — dear; intimate; parent; relation; closely related; parents-in-law of one's offspring
他对每个人都很亲切。Tā duì měi ge rén dōu hěn qīn qiè.He is very kind to everyone.
Common words: 父亲 (fù qīn)、母亲 (mǔ qīn)、亲自 (qīn zì)
All 2 characters
Open 系、亲 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.