Networking & guanxi in Chinese 人脉关系
rén mài guānxi
Guanxi in Chinese is 关系 (guān xi).
Also searched for as: guanxi, connections in Chinese, networking, building relationships, contacts.
In China, who you know really does matter. 15 essential networking & guanxi words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
关系 (guān xi) is often translated as 'connections', but it really means a web of trust and mutual obligation built up over time. Building it involves 人脉 (rén mài), your network of contacts, 人情 (rén qíng), the favours you give and owe, and countless small steps like 加微信 (jiā Wēi xìn), adding someone on WeChat. Understanding these ideas makes Chinese business relationships far easier to read.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 关系 | guān xi | connections; guanxi |
| 人脉 | rén mài | network of contacts |
| 拉关系 | lā guān xi | to cultivate connections |
| 走后门 | zǒu hòu mén | to go through the back door; to pull strings |
| 介绍 | jiè shào | to introduce |
| 加微信 | jiā wēi xìn | to add on WeChat |
| 扫一扫 | sǎo yī sǎo | to scan (a QR code) |
| 交换名片 | jiāo huàn míng piàn | to exchange business cards |
| 保持联系 | bǎo chí lián xì | to keep in touch |
| 老乡 | lǎo xiāng | someone from the same hometown |
| 校友 | xiào yǒu | alumnus; fellow graduate |
| 圈子 | quān zi | circle (social or professional) |
| 人情 | rén qíng | favour; social debt |
| 饭局 | fàn jú | dinner gathering (with a purpose) |
| 套近乎 | tào jìn hu | to cosy up to someone |
Usage tips
- At networking events the QR code has largely replaced the business card, and the standard line is 我扫你还是你扫我 (wǒ sǎo nǐ hái shì nǐ sǎo wǒ), 'shall I scan you or will you scan me?'
- 人情 (rén qíng) works like a running balance: saying 我欠你一个人情 (wǒ qiàn nǐ yī ge rén qíng) acknowledges a favour, and you're expected to return it in some form later.
- Shared background creates instant warmth, so discovering you're 老乡 (lǎo xiāng), from the same hometown, or 校友 (xiào yǒu), from the same university, is a common way into a relationship.
Common mistakes
- Assuming 关系 (guān xi) is always shady: 走后门 (zǒu hòu mén) and 拉关系 (lā guān xi) do imply cutting corners, but 我们关系很好 (wǒ men guān xi hěn hǎo) simply means 'we get on well'.
- Saying 介绍我到李总 for 'introduce me to Mr Li'; say 帮我介绍一下李总 (bāng wǒ jiè shào yī xià Lǐ zǒng) or 介绍我认识李总 (jiè shào wǒ rèn shi Lǐ zǒng).
Mini dialogue
- A原来你也是成都人！我们是老乡啊！Yuán lái nǐ yě shì Chéng dū rén! Wǒ men shì lǎo xiāng a!So you're from Chengdu too! We're from the same place!
- B真巧！方便加个微信吗？Zhēn qiǎo! Fāng biàn jiā ge Wēi xìn ma?What a coincidence! Can I add you on WeChat?
- A当然，我扫你吧。Dāng rán, wǒ sǎo nǐ ba.Of course, I'll scan your code.
- B好了。对了，你能帮我介绍一下李总吗？Hǎo le. Duì le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ jiè shào yī xià Lǐ zǒng ma?Done. By the way, could you introduce me to Mr Li?
- A没问题，下周有个饭局，你一起来吧。Méi wèn tí, xià zhōu yǒu ge fàn jú, nǐ yī qǐ lái ba.No problem. There's a dinner next week, come along.
- B太感谢了，我欠你一个人情！Tài gǎn xiè le, wǒ qiàn nǐ yī ge rén qíng!Thanks so much, I owe you one!
Example sentences
- 他在这个行业关系很硬。He has powerful connections in this industry.
- 做销售最重要的是人脉。In sales, your network is what matters most.
- 他整天忙着拉关系。He spends all day schmoozing.
- 这个工作是他走后门进来的。He got this job by pulling strings.
- 能帮我介绍一下李总吗？Could you introduce me to Mr Li?
- 方便加微信吗？我扫你。Can I add you on WeChat? I'll scan your code.
- 你扫一扫我的二维码。Scan my QR code.
- 活动结束前大家交换名片。Everyone swapped business cards before the event ended.
- 以后多保持联系！Let's stay in touch!
- 原来我们是老乡啊！So we're from the same place!
- 他是我大学校友。He went to the same university as me.
- 这个圈子很小，大家都认识。It's a small industry, everyone knows everyone.
- 这次我欠你一个人情。I owe you one this time.
- 今晚有个饭局，客户也来。There's a dinner tonight, the clients are coming too.
- 他一见面就跟老板套近乎。He started cosying up to the boss the moment they met.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Networking & guanxi speaking island has 8 everyday questions about networking & guanxi to prepare your own answers to.