guanxi

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See also: guānxi, guānxì, and guànxǐ

English

Etymology

Borrowed from the Hanyu Pinyin romanization of Mandarin 關係／关系 (guānxì, “relation, connection”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkwanʃi/, /ˈɡwanʃi/

Noun

guanxi (uncountable)

  1. (Chinese society) Connections; relationships; one's social or business network.
    Synonym: (from Russian) blat
    To open a new business in China you need guanxi.
    • 1996, James O'Reilly, Sean O'Reilly, Larry Habegger, editors, Travellers' Tales - Hong Kong‎:
      Who would dare to drive around in a [right-hand drive] car that was so obviously stolen and smuggled into the country? The police, of course! And Communisty Party officials. And those with guanxi with the police.
    • 1998, Stuart Cohen, Invisible World:
      By chance he'd happened to be in Hong Kong when Clayton had died, and his guanxi had smoothed out the paperwork that could have delayed things for weeks.
    • 2000, Yadong Luo, Strategy, Structure, and Performance of MNCs in China‎:
      It should be noted that the existence of a basis for guanxi does not imply that such an alliance will develop.
    • 2005, China-Britain Business Council‎:
      Many foreigners claim to have guanxi with their Chinese counterparts; few actually do.
    • 2007, Phil Macdonald, “History & Culture”, in National Geographic Traveler: Taiwan‎, 2nd edition, National Geographic Society, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 21, column 2:
      The peculiarly Chinese concept of guansi (guanxi) also pervades interpersonal relationships. In mainland China, a stifling bureaucracy can make it impossible to get anything done, so individuals need to form relationships with the people who can get wheels turning. However, the person who turns the wheels for you will, at some point, want to have the favor returned.
      To accumulate guansi you need to do things for people: Give them gifts, take them to dinner, lend them your car, and so on. Once you have built up guansi, an unspoken understanding develops that favors will be returned repeatedly in an ongoing relationship. Visitors to Taiwan will rarely become involved in guansi, unless there often on business.

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Further reading

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