Usage patterns 人じん 脈みゃく を 作つく る to build a network of contacts
He has built a wide network of contacts in the industry.
人じん 脈みゃく を 広ひろ げる to expand one's network of contacts
While studying abroad, I met people from many countries and expanded my network.
人じん 脈みゃく がある to have connections/contacts
She has strong connections in the political world.
人じん 脈みゃく を 生い かす to make use of one's connections
When changing jobs, I was able to make use of my existing connections.
Related words コネ is a casual, sometimes negative term for using connections to gain an unfair advantage, while 人脈 is a neutral term for one's professional network.
人間関係 covers human relationships broadly, including family and friends, while 人脈 refers specifically to a network of useful contacts.
人脈 is the native Japanese term for a network of professional or personal contacts, while コネクション is a loanword that can also refer to just a single useful contact.
人脈 describes one's whole network of personal connections, whereas つて usually points to a specific contact or channel used for a particular purpose.
人脈 specifically means a personal network of contacts or connections, while ネットワーク is more general and can also refer to technical or broadcasting systems.
Don't confuse with 山脈 (mountain range) shares the kanji 脈 with 人脈 (network of contacts) but has an entirely unrelated meaning.
金脈 means a source of money, while 人脈 means a network of personal connections—learners can mix them up because both use 脈 metaphorically.
Etymology Compound of 人 (person) and 脈 (vein, pulse), literally 'human vein', metaphorically a network of personal connections.
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