Translation guide
Expresses that two or more things are connected, associated, or have a relationship. Japanese uses different words depending on whether the connection is by blood, by logical association, or by general relevance.
To say that people are related by blood or marriage.
Noun meaning 'relative'. Use with だ/です to say 'is a relative' or 'are related'.
彼は私の親戚です。
He is related to me. (He is my relative.)
Literally 'blood is connected'. Used to emphasize a blood relationship.
私たちは血がつながっています。
We are related by blood.
Formal/legal expression meaning 'to be in a kinship relationship'.
彼らは親族関係にあります。
They are related. (formal)
To say that two things or concepts are connected or have a relationship.
Most common way to say 'is related to' or 'has a connection with'. Use ～と関係がある for 'related to ~'.
この問題はあの問題と関係がある。
This problem is related to that problem.
彼の仕事は教育と関係があります。
His job is related to education.
Means 'is related' or 'is associated'. Often used for topics, events, or data. Slightly more formal than 関係がある.
その二つの事件は関連している。
The two incidents are related.
Literally 'there is a connection'. Casual and often used for personal or emotional connections.
この町には歴史的なつながりがある。
This town has historical connections.
Means 'are linked' or 'are tied together'. Emphasizes a strong or inseparable connection.
経済と政治は深く結びついている。
Economy and politics are deeply related.
To say that something is relevant or pertains to a topic.
Verb phrase meaning 'to be related to ~' or 'to concern ~'. Used as ～に関係している for state.
これはあなたに関係することです。
This is something that concerns you. (This is related to you.)
Modifying phrase meaning 'related to ~' or 'regarding ~'. Used before nouns.
環境に関する本を読んだ。
I read a book related to the environment.
関係がある is the most general and common way to say 'is related'. 関連している is slightly more formal and often used for logical or factual connections between events, data, or topics. For personal relationships, 関係がある can also mean 'having an affair', so be careful with context.
彼はその事件に関係がある。
He is related to the incident. (He is involved.)
二つのデータは関連している。
The two sets of data are related.
English 'be related' cannot be directly translated as a single verb in Japanese. Use noun + がある or verb phrases like 関連している. Saying 関係される is incorrect.