1. C U 关系，联系，交往　 way in which one person or thing is related to another, similarity, contrast or connection between people, things or events; links or contacts between people, groups, countries, etc.
2. C 亲戚，亲属　 person who is related to another, relative

　break off ～　中断关系
　build up a ～　建立关系
　cement ～　促进关系，巩固关系
　develop ～s　发展关系
　establish ～　建立关系
　further ～s　促进关系
　have ～　与…有关系，保持关系
　improve ～　改善关系
　invite ～s　邀请亲戚
　keep ～s　保持关系
　maintain ～　保持关系
　normalize ～　使关系正常化
　promote ～　促进关系
　strengthen ～　加强关系
　casual ～s　随便的关系，偶然的关系，非正式的关系
　close ～　近亲，密切的关系
　commercial ～　商业往来
　cordial ～s　亲密的关系
　cultural ～s　文化关系
　diplomatic ～s　外交关系
　distant ～　远亲
　economic ～　经济关系
　external ～s　对外关系
　foreign ～　外交关系
　friendly ～s　友好关系
　good ～　好关系
　international ～　国际关系
　intimate ～　亲密关系
　marital ～　婚姻关系
　near ～　近亲
　normal ～s　正常关系
　personal ～s　个人关系
　public ～　公共关系
　remote ～　远亲
　social ～s　社会关系
　troubled ～　紧张的关系
　buying and selling ～　买卖关系
　labor ～　劳工关系
　labour-management ～　劳资关系
　trade ～s　贸易关系
　in ～ to　关于，涉及，有关
　on ～s with　与…的关系
　out of (all) ～ to sth　同某事（完全）不相称
　～ between　…之间的关系
　～ by marriage　姻亲
　～ of　…的关系
　～ on an equal basis　平等关系
　～ with sb　与某人的关系

　The report has relation to agriculture.　这报告和农业有关。
　What he says bears no relation to what he does.　他的言和行是两码事。
　There's no relation between the two things.　这两件事没有联系。
　The cost of this project bears no relation to the result.　此项目的费用与其成果不相称。
　Race relations are an explosive issue.　种族关系是一个爆炸性的问题。
　There were some mediate contacts between the two countries before their diplomatic relations were established.　在两国外交关系建立之前，已经有些间接的接触。
　The two countries have maintained friendly relations for many years.　两国多年来一直保持着友好的关系。
　Relations are rather strained at present.　目前关系有些紧张。
　We should correctly handle the relation of the individual to the collective.　我们应该正确地处理个人与集体的关系。
　We shall welcome a renewal of our cordial relations.　我们欢迎你我双方真诚关系的恢复。
　I had friendly relations with Professor Wang.　我与王教授有友好的关系。
　They have broken off all relations with him.　他们已断绝与他的往来。
　He is a distant relation of mine.　他是我的远房亲戚。
　She paid a circular visit among her relation.　她轮流逐一拜访她的亲友。
　All my near relations live abroad.　我所有的近亲都在国外。
　Most of her relations are just plain folk.　她的大多数亲属只是些平民百姓。
　All of his relations were a sort of Royal Family.　他的家族都是皇亲国戚。
　All his poor relations came to spend their holidays at his home.　他的穷亲戚都到他家来度假。
　I go home every summer to visit my family relations.　我每年夏天回家探亲。

 ♣ in〔with〕 relation to
　与…有关，涉及　concerning sb/sth
　with reference to sb/sth
　I have a lot to say in relation to that affair.　关于那件事，我有很多话要说。
　The project was outlined with relation to available funds.　这方案是根据可以获得的经费而拟定的。

 ♣ relation, relative
　这两个词都有“亲戚”的意思。其区别是：
1. 根据血统或婚姻关系的远近来说，较近的亲戚用relation，较远的亲戚用relative. 例如：
　He had no relatives in California.　他在加利福尼亚没有亲戚。
　She has no relatives in town.　她城里没有亲戚。
　These are the gifts to friends and relatives.　这些就是送给亲戚和朋友的礼物。
2. relation除表达抽象意思外，还表示特别亲密的关系， relative只含有单纯的亲戚意味。试比较：
　

　这两个国家之间的关系现在很紧张。
　［误］ The relation between these two nations are now much strained.
　［正］ The relations between these two nations are now much strained.
　［析］ 表示种族、民族、国家等之间的“关系”时，习惯用复数形式relations.

　［同义词］ connection, kin, kinship, reference; affairs, association, relationship