relations
relations — noun
1. the way groups, organizations, or countries interact, communicate, and behave to
the way groups, organizations, or countries interact, communicate, and behave toward one another — for example, trade relations between two nations, or community relations in a local area.
Trade relations between Japan and Australia have grown much stronger over the past decade.
collocation: trade relations + between + countries
Indra was hired to improve labour relations between management and factory workers.
collocation: labour relations
After years of conflict, diplomatic relations between the two neighbours were restored in 2023.
Community relations in the apartment block improved after Yara started the weekly clean-up group.
The university has strong international relations with schools in Europe and Asia.
- dealings
more neutral and less emotional than 'relations'
- interactions
focuses on direct communication or contact
- ties
suggests a closer, more personal or loyal connection
文法句型
usually with modifiers (international, labour, public, diplomatic, race)
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with an adjective or noun modifier (e.g. 'international relations', 'public relations', 'race relations') and always appears in the plural form.
常見錯誤
2. a way in which separate items, ideas, or situations are linked to one another me
a way in which separate items, ideas, or situations are linked to one another meaningfully — for example, the relation between exercise and heart health, showing how one affects the other.
The study found a clear relation between daily exercise and better heart health.
pattern: relation + between + X + and + Y
Gabriel could not see any relation between the two events his teacher described in class.
Researchers are still exploring the relation between diet quality and memory loss in older adults.
There is a well-known relation between hours of sleep and a person's ability to focus the next day.
- connection
more general and less formal than 'relation'
- link
suggests a direct, often causal tie between things
- correlation
technical term for a statistical relationship
文法句型
relation + between + noun + and + noun
用法筆記
In this sense the singular 'relation' is far more common than 'relations'. 'Relationship' is the more frequent everyday word for this meaning; 'relation' sounds slightly more technical or formal.
常見錯誤
3. used in the fixed phrases 'in relation to' or 'with relation to' to mean concern
used in the fixed phrases 'in relation to' or 'with relation to' to mean concerning, regarding, or when compared with something else.
In relation to your visa application, we still need two more documents.
fixed phrase: in relation to + topic
Romi asked several thoughtful questions in relation to the proposed new law.
The company's prices are quite low in relation to the quality of their products.
The professor spoke at length in relation to the history of democracy in East Asia.
- regarding
shorter, more common in everyday use
- concerning
slightly more formal than 'regarding'
- with respect to
equally formal, interchangeable in writing
文法句型
in relation to + noun
with relation to + noun
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the set phrases 'in relation to' or 'with relation to'. The form 'with relation to' is somewhat less common than 'in relation to'. Both are typical of formal written or spoken English.
常見錯誤
4. people connected to you by blood or marriage; your relatives or family members —
people connected to you by blood or marriage; your relatives or family members — for example, inviting all your relations to a wedding, or discovering distant relations in another country.
All of Madison's close relations flew to Taipei for the family reunion dinner.
collocation: close relations
Through a DNA test, Joshua discovered he had distant relations living in Brazil.
Under the will, the money was divided equally among his nearest relations.
During the festival, families visit their elderly relations and share a large meal together.
- relatives
the more common everyday word for family members
- family members
neutral and clear
- kin
somewhat formal or old-fashioned
- stranger
someone not related to you by blood or marriage
文法句型
possessive + relations
relations + verb (plural)
用法筆記
In this sense 'relations' (plural) is slightly more common than the singular 'relation'. In legal contexts 'nearest relations' or 'next of kin' are set phrases. For a single relative, the singular 'a relation' is perfectly natural.
常見錯誤
5. sexual intercourse between two people. This use is formal and typically appears
sexual intercourse between two people. This use is formal and typically appears in legal, medical, or official contexts rather than everyday conversation.
The law clearly forbids sexual relations between adults and anyone under the age of consent.
formal/legal register: sexual relations
The medical report stated that the patient had not had sexual relations in the previous six months.
In the court case, both witnesses were questioned about their past relations with the accused.
The hospital has a strict policy against any sexual relations between staff and patients.
- intercourse
equally formal but more direct than 'sexual relations'
- sex
the standard everyday word for this meaning
文法句型
sexual relations
have relations with
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, native speakers prefer 'sex' or 'sleep with' over 'have relations'. The formal phrase 'sexual relations' or simply 'relations' (when the context is clear) is reserved for legal documents, medical records, and official statements.
常見錯誤
6. giving a spoken or written description of past events; a narrative account of wh
giving a spoken or written description of past events; a narrative account of what happened. This use is now very rare and only found in older or literary texts.
The old manuscript contains a detailed relation of the captain's voyage to the South Pacific.
archaic pattern: a relation of + story/events
In his journal, the explorer left a vivid relation of his first meeting with the island people.
The memoir includes a sorrowful relation of the famine that swept through the village in 1847.
Wei found an eighteenth-century relation of the siege written by a soldier who was there.
文法句型
a relation of + noun
用法筆記
This meaning is archaic in modern English. In contemporary writing, 'account', 'narrative', or 'report' are used instead. You may encounter this sense in 18th- or 19th-century literature.