relation, relationship

这两个词，概括来说，指关系时是相同的，无分特殊和一般关系，尤其用于指事物之间的关系：

Some doctors think there is a relation between smoking and lung cancer.

有些医生认为吸烟与肺癌有关连。

Scientists have researched into the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.

科学家曾研究吸烟与肺癌的关系。

There is no proof of the relation of crime to TV violence.

无证据显示罪案是和电视上的暴力有关的。

I am doubtless about the relationship of diligence to success.

我绝不怀疑勤奋与成功的关系。

“What relation is he to you?”“He is nephew to me./He is my nephew. ”

“他和你有何关系？”“他是我的侄儿。”

“What is his relationship to/with you?”

“他和你有何关系？”

（注：这句不能说成：“What is his relation to you?”）

在以上情况下，即使有分别，relation侧重形式上的关连，而 relationship却侧重密切的交往。例如：

John's relation with Mary is father and daughter.

约翰和玛丽是父母关系。

John's relationship with Mary has improved.

约翰和玛丽的关系已改善了。

Relation和relationship最大分别在于relation用于较广，可带别的涵义，如：

（一）加了s，变成复数的relations指密切交往上的关系而非形式上的关系。例： family relations、 business relations、foreign relations、friendly relations（但也可写成friendly relationship、a love－hate relationship）.

（二）解作“亲属”，相等于relative。但一般已多用relative代替 relation：

My niece is my near relation/relative.

我的侄女是我的近亲。

（三）用在固定词组里，如：in relation to（有concerning的含义）：

He was arrested in relation to the murder case.

他涉及那桩谋杀案被拘捕。

Questions have been raised in relation to the legality of abortion.

对于堕胎的合法性有人提出质疑。

或固定词组 bear/ has no/ little relation to：

His proposal bears no relation to the matter under discussion.

他的建议与正在讨论的事顶无关。

（四）relation可解作“叙述”，相当于 narration：

The explorer gave an exciting relation of his adventures in the

Arctic.

探险者生动地描述他在北极洋的经历。