相似英語詞彙辨析129：relation, relationship
129 Relation, relationship
這兩個詞，概括來說，指關係時是相同的，無分特殊和一般關係，尤其用於指事物之間的關係：
Some doctors think there is a relation between smoking and lung cancer.
有些醫生認爲吸菸與肺癌有關連。
Scientists have researched into the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.
科學家曾研究吸菸與肺癌的關係。
There is no proof of the relation of crime to TV violence.
無證據顯示罪案是和電視上的暴力有關的。
I am doubtless about the relationship of diligence to success.
我絕不懷疑勤奮與成功的關係。
“What relation is he to you?”“He is nephew to me./He is my nephew. ”
“他和你有何關係？”“他是我的侄兒。”
“What is his relationship to/with you?”
“他和你有何關係？”
（注：這句不能說成：“What is his relation to you?”）
在以上情況下，即使有分別，relation側重形式上的關連，而 relationship卻側重密切的交往。例如：
John's relation with Mary is father and daughter.
約翰和瑪麗是父母關係。
John's relationship with Mary has improved.
約翰和瑪麗的關係已改善了。
Relation和relationship最大分別在於relation用於較廣，可帶別的涵義，如：
（一）加了s，變成複數的relations指密切交往上的關係而非形式上的關係。例： family relations、 business relations、foreign relations、friendly relations（但也可寫成friendly relationship、a love－hate relationship）.
（二）解作“親屬”，相等於relative。但一般已多用relative代替 relation：
My niece is my near relation/relative.
我的侄女是我的近親。
（三）用在固定詞組裏，如：in relation to（有concerning的含義）：
He was arrested in relation to the murder case.
他涉及那樁謀殺案被拘捕。
Questions have been raised in relation to the legality of abortion.
對於墮胎的合法性有人提出質疑。
或固定詞組 bear/ has no/ little relation to：
His proposal bears no relation to the matter under discussion.
他的建議與正在討論的事頂無關。
（四）relation可解作“敘述”，相當於 narration：
The explorer gave an exciting relation of his adventures in the Arctic.
探險者生動地描述他在北極洋的經歷。
