Relation = Relationship吗?

大家是否纠结过relation 和 relationship两个英语单词的语法区别？

英语单词relation 和 relationship 的语法区别

其实，这两个英语单词语法，既有共同点，也有不同点。

Relations 和 relationship 指代友谊（friendship）

1. 共同点

都是可数名词

含义：the way in which two or more people feel and behave towards each other （人们彼此的）关系，感情关系

此时，relation必须是复数，即relations

例如：

• Relations between him and his new wife are rather strained. 他和新娶的妻子之间的关系很紧张。(=relationship)
• He has a very good relationship with his uncle. 他和他叔叔的感情很深。(=relation)

2. 不同点

在比较官方和正式的层面，如当涉及国与国，或团体之间的友谊时，只能使用relations

例如：

• Britain enjoys friendly relations with Canada. 英国和加拿大的关系非常友好。

英语单词relation 和 relationship 的语法区别

Relation 和 relationship 指代联系（connection）

1. 共同点

此时，relation是不可数名词，而relationship是可数名词

含义：the way in which two things are connected 关系；联系；关联

例如：

• The relation between the original book and this new film is very faint. 原著和这部新电影之间没太多联系。(=relationship)
• Scientists have established the relationship between lung cancer and smoking. 科学家们已经证明了肺癌和吸烟之间的联系。(=relation)

2. 不同点

此时，relation还可指代“事物之间的相似性”（the similarity between two things ）

此时，relationship 还可指“浪漫关系，情爱关系，性关系”（a close romantic friendship between two people, often a sexual one）

例如：

• She bears no relation to (= she is not similar to) her brother. 她和她弟弟性格迥异。
• Have you had any serious relationships in the past year? 过去一年中你有没有正经八百地同谁谈过恋爱？

英语单词relation 和 relationship 的语法区别

其他不同点

relation : [c] 亲戚，亲属（a member of your family）

• The funeral was attended by friends and relations.死者的亲友参加了葬礼。
• She's a relation by marriage because she married my cousin. 她是我的一个姻亲，因为她嫁给了我表哥。

relationship：[c] 亲属关系；家属关系；姻亲关系（the family connection between people ）

• The judge asked the witness what the relationship was between her and the victim. 法官问证人她跟受害者有什么亲戚关系。