guanxi

/ ˌɡwænˈsiː /

noun

1. a Chinese social concept based on the exchange of favours, in which personal relationships are considered more important than laws and written agreements

Word History and Origins

Origin of guanxi¹

C20: Chinese: relationships

Example Sentences

It is not uncommon for people to use "guanxi" to help their children find jobs, she says, but what bothers her is the "deep-rooted unfairness".

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Frustrated with rising unemployment and a slowing economy, more and more young Chinese people feel that connections, or guanxi, pay off more than hard work, research shows.

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As investment prospects darken, financiers increasingly view the game as a way to build 'guanxi' or connections with officials who hold the purse strings on local projects, especially those overseas investors might consider too risky.

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Doctors and experts said the use of red packets and "guanxi", or connections, to gain access persists.

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However, the Trump administration recognized reality and fought against deeply-entrenched interests that included “paid Beijing proxies and guanxi brokers” — a reference to China‘s powerful lobbyists and others who tried to influence U.S. policies in Beijing‘s favor.

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