liánxì: 联系 - To Contact, Connection, Relation

• Keywords: lianxi, 联系, how to say contact in Chinese, contact information in Chinese, keep in touch in Chinese, lianxi vs guanxi, Chinese verb to contact, 联系 meaning, establish connection Chinese, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 联系 (liánxì), a versatile term meaning 'to contact,' 'to get in touch,' 'connection,' or 'relation.' This comprehensive guide explores how to use 联系 to ask for contact information, keep in touch with friends, and establish professional connections in China. Discover its cultural nuances, practical examples for everyday conversation, and the crucial difference between 联系 (liánxì) and the deeper concept of 关系 (guānxi).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): liánxì
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To get in touch with someone; or, the connection or link between people, things, or ideas.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 联系 (liánxì) is about making or maintaining a line of communication. It's the practical action of calling, texting, or emailing someone (the verb form), and it also describes the resulting connection you have with them (the noun form). Think of it as the functional bridge between people or ideas, the 'link' in 'link-up'. It's less about deep, obligation-based relationships (关系 guānxi) and more about the simple, crucial act of staying in touch.

• 联 (lián): To connect, join, or unite. The character features a “silk” radical (纟) on the left, hinting at threads, and a component on the right that originally depicted a carriage. Imagine threads connecting carriages together in a train – a perfect visual for “linking.”
• 系 (xì): To tie, bind, or connect; a system. The character itself looks like a hand grabbing a thread, evoking the image of tying a knot or fastening something. It implies a connection that forms a system or a series.
• How they combine: Together, 联 (lián) + 系 (xì) literally means “to join and tie.” This powerful image perfectly captures the word's dual meaning: the action of creating a link and the state of being linked. You “join and tie” a communicative line to someone.

联系 (liánxì) is a cornerstone of modern Chinese social and professional life. While it may seem like a simple translation of “to contact,” it carries a weight that reflects a more collectivist culture. In Western, particularly American, culture, “contacting” someone can be purely transactional. You contact customer service, you contact a colleague for a specific piece of information, and the interaction can end there. In China, the act of 联系 is often the first step in building or the primary method of maintaining 关系 (guānxi), the all-important network of social relationships. Regularly making 联系 (e.g., sending a holiday greeting on WeChat, calling just to check in) is not just a friendly gesture; it's a social expectation that shows you value the relationship. It's the maintenance work required to keep your social network healthy. Failing to 保持联系 (bǎochí liánxì), or “maintain contact,” can be interpreted as a sign of disrespect or an indication that the relationship is no longer important, causing it to weaken over time. Therefore, 联系 is the functional tool used to service the deeper, more complex engine of 关系.

联系 is an extremely common and practical word you'll use daily.

• Getting Contact Info: This is one of the most common uses for beginners. After meeting someone, you'll almost always exchange contact information, primarily WeChat (`微信 wēixìn`).
  • “How can I contact you?” - `怎么联系你？ (Zěnme liánxì nǐ?)`
  • “Let's add each other on WeChat to make it easier to stay in touch.” - `我们加个微信，方便联系。(Wǒmen jiā ge Wēixìn, fāngbiàn liánxì.)`
• Maintaining Relationships: The phrase `保持联系 (bǎochí liánxì)` - “keep in touch” - is the standard way to end a conversation with someone you want to see or hear from again.
• Business and Formal Settings: In emails, letters, and phone calls, 联系 is the standard, polite term.
  • “If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.” - `如果您有任何问题，请随时联系我们。(Rúguǒ nín yǒu rènhé wèntí, qǐng suíshí liánxì wǒmen.)`
• As a Noun (“Connection/Link”): It's also used to describe a logical or abstract link between two things.
  • “What's the connection between these two events?” - `这两件事之间有什么联系？(Zhè liǎng jiàn shì zhījiān yǒu shéme liánxì?)`

• Example 1:
  • 我明天会联系你。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān huì liánxì nǐ.
  • English: I will contact you tomorrow.
  • Analysis: A simple, direct use of 联系 as a verb. This is a very common and useful sentence.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你有问题，请随时联系我。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ yǒu wèntí, qǐng suíshí liánxì wǒ.
  • English: If you have questions, please contact me anytime.
  • Analysis: A polite and common phrase used in both professional and personal contexts. `随时 (suíshí)` means “anytime” or “at any time.”
• Example 3:
  • 我们毕业以后就失去联系了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bìyè yǐhòu jiù shīqù liánxì le.
  • English: We lost contact after we graduated.
  • Analysis: Here, 联系 is used as a noun meaning “contact.” `失去 (shīqù)` means “to lose.” This is a very natural way to express this idea.
• Example 4:
  • 你能把他的联系方式给我吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ tā de liánxì fāngshì gěi wǒ ma?
  • English: Can you give me his contact information?
  • Analysis: 联系方式 (liánxì fāngshì) is a set phrase meaning “contact method” or “contact info” (e.g., phone number, email, WeChat ID).
• Example 5:
  • 我们一定要保持联系啊！
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīdìng yào bǎochí liánxì a!
  • English: We must keep in touch!
  • Analysis: `保持联系 (bǎochí liánxì)` is the classic phrase for “to keep in touch.” The `啊 (a)` at the end adds a friendly, enthusiastic tone.
• Example 6:
  • 警察正在调查这两起案件之间的联系。
  • Pinyin: Jǐngchá zhèngzài diàochá zhè liǎng qǐ ànjiàn zhījiān de liánxì.
  • English: The police are investigating the connection between these two cases.
  • Analysis: This shows 联系 used as a noun to describe an abstract link or relationship between things, not just people.
• Example 7:
  • 我试了很多次，但是一直联系不上他。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ shìle hěn duō cì, dànshì yīzhí liánxì bu shàng tā.
  • English: I tried many times, but I haven't been able to get in touch with him.
  • Analysis: The potential complement `不上 (bu shàng)` after a verb indicates an inability to achieve the verb's result. `联系不上 (liánxì bu shàng)` means “unable to contact.”
• Example 8:
  • 我们加个微信吧，方便以后联系。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā ge Wēixìn ba, fāngbiàn yǐhòu liánxì.
  • English: Let's add each other on WeChat, it will be convenient to contact each other in the future.
  • Analysis: This is an extremely common phrase in modern China. WeChat (`微信`) is the primary tool for social and professional 联系.
• Example 9:
  • 理论必须联系实际。
  • Pinyin: Lǐlùn bìxū liánxì shíjì.
  • English: Theory must be linked with practice.
  • Analysis: A more formal, abstract use of 联系 as a verb, meaning “to connect” or “to integrate.”
• Example 10:
  • 他们两家公司有业务上的联系。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen liǎng jiā gōngsī yǒu yèwù shàng de liánxì.
  • English: Their two companies have a business connection.
  • Analysis: Here, 联系 is a noun specifying the type of connection – a professional or business one (`业务上 yèwù shàng`).

• 联系 (liánxì) vs. 关系 (guānxi): This is the most critical distinction.
  • 联系 is the action of contacting or the link itself. It's functional. (e.g., “I will contact you tomorrow.”)
  • 关系 (guānxi) is the deeper, established relationship and social network, often with implicit obligations.
  • Analogy: 联系 is the telephone line; 关系 is the friendship or alliance that the line supports. You use `联系` to maintain `关系`.
  • Incorrect: ~~我明天会关系你。~~ (I will relationship you tomorrow.) → This is meaningless.
  • Correct: 我明天会联系你。(I will contact you tomorrow.)
• Verb vs. Noun Usage: Learners sometimes get confused because 联系 can be both a verb and a noun. Pay attention to the sentence structure.
  • Verb: Subject + 联系 + Object. (`我联系他。` - I contact him.)
  • Noun: `有/没有` (have/not have) + 联系. (`我们有联系。` - We are in contact.) `失去` (lose) + 联系. (`我们失去联系了。` - We lost contact.)
• Not for Family Relations: While 联系 can be translated as “relation” in an abstract sense (the relation between A and B), you do not use it to describe family relationships. For that, you use 关系 (guānxi).
  • Incorrect: ~~我和他的父子联系很好。~~
  • Correct: 我和他的父子关系很好。(My son and I have a good relationship.)

• 关系 (guānxi) - The deeper, more complex social network or relationship that is maintained through `联系`.
• 沟通 (gōutōng) - To communicate. This focuses more on the quality of the exchange and achieving mutual understanding, whereas `联系` can be just a one-way message.
• 交流 (jiāoliú) - To exchange (ideas, culture, information). It emphasizes a two-way flow and mutual sharing.
• 接触 (jiēchù) - To touch; to come into contact with. Often implies the very first or a more physical/superficial level of contact.
• 打交道 (dǎ jiāodào) - To deal with; to interact with (people). This often implies an ongoing series of interactions, especially in a professional or community setting.
• 来往 (láiwǎng) - To have dealings with; to associate with. Emphasizes the back-and-forth nature of social visits and interactions between people.
• 联系方式 (liánxì fāngshì) - The specific “contact method” or “contact information,” such as a phone number, email address, or WeChat ID.
• 挂钩 (guàgōu) - To link up with; to establish a connection with, often in a systematic or official way (e.g., a policy is linked to a subsidy). More formal and less personal than `联系`.