guanxi

Where does the word "guanxi" come from? It comes from Chinese guānxi, and was adopted directly into English (late 1900s).

Guanxi’s story begins in Chinese: guānxi meant “a personal or social network of mutual obligation.” Meaning 'relationship' or 'connection', a concept of reciprocal social and business ties. It reached English by late 1900s as guanxi. Chinese 'relationships', a key idea of Confucian social ties. Today, guanxi means a Chinese concept of personal networks and reciprocal relationships that grease social and business dealings.

1. Stage 1 · Chinese · ancient guānxi "a personal or social network of mutual obligation", meaning 'relationship' or 'connection', a concept of reciprocal social and business ties.
2. Stage 2 · English · late 1900s guanxi "a network of influential personal relationships used to get things done", Chinese 'relationships', a key idea of Confucian social ties.