Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Connections; relationships; one's social or business network.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Sinitic trad. 關係, simpl. 关系 (guānxi), literally relation connection.

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Examples

  • That answer would take volumes to answer properly, but in short, its what the Chinese call guanxi, or "relationships" and thus what goes around...comes around.

    Chengdu Birthdays and Ping Pong Battles Phil Razem 2008

  • That answer would take volumes to answer properly, but in short, its what the Chinese call guanxi, or "relationships" and thus what goes around...comes around.

    Archive 2008-07-01 Phil Razem 2008

  • And as the children of peasants or factory workers, they lack the essential social lubricant known as guanxi, or personal connections, that greases the way for the offspring of China's nouveau riche and the politically connected.

    NYT > Home Page By ANDREW JACOBS 2010

  • And as the children of peasants or factory workers, they lack the essential social lubricant known as guanxi, or personal connections, that greases the way for the offspring of China's nouveau riche and the politically connected.

    NYT > Home Page By ANDREW JACOBS 2010

  • And as the children of peasants or factory workers, they lack the essential social lubricant known as guanxi, or personal connections, that greases the way for the offspring of China's nouveau riche and the politically connected.

    NYT > Home Page By ANDREW JACOBS 2010

  • He says Americans need to understand the importance of building so-called guanxi (pronounced GWAN-she).

    Local News from Tuscaloosa News 2009

  • He says Americans need to understand the importance of building so-called guanxi (pronounced GWAN-she).

    Local News from Tuscaloosa News 2009

  • "guanxi" - gaining favor through networking and relationship-building.

    chicagotribune.com - 2010

  • "guanxi" - gaining favor through networking and relationship-building.

    chicagotribune.com - 2010

  • There is an emphasis throughout the book on the Chinese notion of "guanxi," the idea of family and friends being interconnected and committed to supporting each other.

    One For The Table: The Last Chinese Chef 2010

Comments

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  • (pronounced /gwænʃi:/) Chinese 关系 = connections, relationships

    July 22, 2008

  • According to Christopher J. Moore - this word also has connotations similar to the Mafia's use of 'favors'. One can accumulate guanxi and spend guanxi like social currency.

    December 7, 2008