Translation guide
The English word 'relation' covers a wide range of meanings, from family ties and personal relationships to abstract connections between things. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression depending on whether you mean a human relationship, a logical connection, or a mathematical relation.
関係
relation (general)
Expressing a personal connection or bond between people.
The most general and common word for 'relation' or 'relationship' between people. Can be used for family, work, romantic, or social connections.
彼とは仕事上の関係です。
I have a business relation with him.
二人の関係は良好だ。
Their relation is good.
Specifically refers to human relations or interpersonal relationships, often used in contexts like workplace dynamics or social skills.
職場の人間関係に悩んでいる。
I'm struggling with workplace relations.
A formal term for family relation or kinship, often seen on official documents or forms.
続柄を記入してください。
Please fill in your relation (to the head of household).
Expressing how two or more things are connected, linked, or related in a non-personal sense.
Also used for abstract relations between concepts, events, or objects. Very versatile.
喫煙と肺がんの関係について研究している。
I'm researching the relation between smoking and lung cancer.
この二つの事件には関係がある。
There is a relation between these two incidents.
Emphasizes a connection or correlation, often used in academic or business contexts. Slightly more formal than 関係.
Implies a tangible link or bond, often used for social connections or causal chains. More casual than 関係.
Specifically means 'correlation', used in statistics or scientific contexts.
Referring to an intimate or romantic involvement between people.
When context makes it clear, 関係 can imply a sexual relationship. Often used with modifiers like 肉体関係 (physical relation) or 男女の関係 (man-woman relation).
彼とはただの友達で、そういう関係ではない。
He's just a friend; we don't have that kind of relation.
二人は肉体関係を持っていた。
They had a physical relation.
Refers to dating or going out with someone, often with romantic implications. More specific than 関係.
Expressing a relation in mathematics, logic, or formal systems.
Used in mathematics for relations between sets, numbers, etc.
この式は二つの変数の関係を表している。
This formula expresses the relation between two variables.
Specifically means 'relational expression' or 'equation showing a relation'.
Referring to relations between countries or organizations.
Commonly used for international relations, often in compounds like 国際関係 (international relations) or 外交関係 (diplomatic relations).
両国は国交関係を断絶した。
The two countries severed diplomatic relations.
国際関係を専攻している。
I'm majoring in international relations.
関係 is the broadest term for 'relation' and can be used for people, things, or abstract concepts. 関連 implies a more specific connection or correlation, often used in formal or academic contexts. For personal relationships, always use 関係.
人間関係 (human relations) vs. 関連会社 (affiliated company)
人間関係 (human relations) vs. 関連会社 (affiliated company)
English often uses 'relation' where Japanese would use a more specific word or omit it entirely. For example, 'in relation to' is often translated as ～に関して (ni kanshite) or ～について (ni tsuite), not using 関係 directly.
患者さんとのご関係は？
What is your relation to the patient?
Polite way to ask about family relation in a medical setting.
原因と結果の関係
The relation between cause and effect
その問題は環境問題と密接な関連がある。
That issue has a close relation to environmental problems.
インターネットで世界中の人と繋がりが持てる。
You can have relations with people all over the world via the internet.
データの相関関係を分析する。
Analyze the correlation (relation) of the data.
彼女と交際を始めて半年になる。
I've been in a relation with her for half a year.
関係式を導出する。
Derive the relational equation.
Specifically diplomatic relations.
外交関係を正常化する。
Normalize diplomatic relations.