relations

relations — 名詞

1. the way groups, organizations, or countries interact, communicate, and behave to

1.名詞B1
釋義

人際往來

團體或國家間的互動與聯繫

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.

例句

Trade relations between Japan and Australia have grown much stronger over the past decade.

日本與澳洲之間的貿易往來，在過去十年中變得更為密切。

collocation: trade relations + between + countries

Indra was hired to improve labour relations between management and factory workers.

Indra 受僱來改善管理階層與工廠勞工之間的勞資關係。

collocation: labour relations

同義詞
  • 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

❌The relation between the two companies is good.
✅Relations between the two companies are good.
💡For dealings between groups, always use the plural 'relations', not the singular 'relation'.

2. a way in which separate items, ideas, or situations are linked to one another me

2.名詞B2
釋義

關聯

事物之間的因果或邏輯連結

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.

例句

The study found a clear relation between daily exercise and better heart health.

這項研究發現每日運動與心臟健康之間有明確的關聯。

pattern: relation + between + X + and + Y

Gabriel could not see any relation between the two events his teacher described in class.

Gabriel 無法看出老師在課堂上描述的兩件事之間有任何關聯。

同義詞
  • 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

❌What is the relations between sleep and health?
✅What is the relation between sleep and health?
💡Use the singular 'relation' (not 'relations') when referring to a link between things.

3. used in the fixed phrases 'in relation to' or 'with relation to' to mean concern

3.名詞B2
釋義

關於

用於固定片語表示涉及或比較

used in the fixed phrases 'in relation to' or 'with relation to' to mean concerning, regarding, or when compared with something else.

例句

In relation to your visa application, we still need two more documents.

關於你的簽證申請，我們還需要兩份文件。

fixed phrase: in relation to + topic

Romi asked several thoughtful questions in relation to the proposed new law.

Romi 針對那項新法案提出了幾個深思熟慮的問題。

同義詞

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

❌Relation to your question, I have an answer.
✅In relation to your question, I have an answer.
💡The fixed phrase requires 'in' or 'with' before 'relation'.

4. people connected to you by blood or marriage; your relatives or family members —

4.名詞B1
釋義

親屬

有血緣或婚姻關係的人

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.

例句

All of Madison's close relations flew to Taipei for the family reunion dinner.

Madison 的所有近親都飛到台北參加家族團聚晚宴。

collocation: close relations

Through a DNA test, Joshua discovered he had distant relations living in Brazil.

Joshua 透過 DNA 檢測發現自己在巴西有遠親。

同義詞
反義詞
  • 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

❌She invited all her relation to the party.
✅She invited all her relations to the party.
💡Use the plural 'relations' when referring to multiple family members.

5. sexual intercourse between two people. This use is formal and typically appears

5.名詞C1
釋義

性行為

性交的正式用語

sexual intercourse between two people. This use is formal and typically appears in legal, medical, or official contexts rather than everyday conversation.

例句

The law clearly forbids sexual relations between adults and anyone under the age of consent.

法律明文禁止成年人與未達法定年齡者發生性行為。

formal/legal register: sexual relations

The medical report stated that the patient had not had sexual relations in the previous six months.

醫療報告指出，該病患在過去六個月內沒有發生過性行為。

同義詞
  • 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

❌They had a relation last night.
✅They had sexual relations last night.
💡The plural form 'relations' (not the singular 'relation') is used for this sense, and the adjective 'sexual' is usually needed for clarity.

6. giving a spoken or written description of past events; a narrative account of wh

6.名詞
釋義

敘述

講述事件經過的古老用法

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.

例句

The old manuscript contains a detailed relation of the captain's voyage to the South Pacific.

這份古老的手稿詳細記述了船長前往南太平洋的航行經歷。

archaic pattern: a relation of + story/events

In his journal, the explorer left a vivid relation of his first meeting with the island people.

那位探險家在日記中生動地記述了他首次與島民會面的經過。

同義詞
  • account

    the modern equivalent, used in everyday writing and speech

  • narrative

    suggests a structured story with a beginning, middle, and end

  • report

    implies a factual, often official, account

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.

常見錯誤

❌I wrote a relation of my trip to Japan.
✅I wrote an account of my trip to Japan.
💡In modern English, 'account' or 'report' replaces this archaic use of 'relation'.