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.
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.
I have a business relation with him.
Their relation is good.
Specifically refers to human relations or interpersonal relationships, often used in contexts like workplace dynamics or social skills.
I'm struggling with workplace relations.
A formal term for family relation or kinship, often seen on official documents or forms.
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.
I'm researching the relation between smoking and lung cancer.
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).
He's just a friend; we don't have that kind of 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.
Referring to relations between countries or organizations.
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)
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.
What is your relation to the patient?
Polite way to ask about family relation in a medical setting.
The relation between cause and effect
There is a relation between these two incidents.
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.
They had a physical relation.
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.
Derive the relational equation.
I'm majoring in international relations.
Specifically diplomatic relations.
Normalize diplomatic relations.