lā guānxi: 拉关系 - To Curry Favor, To Build Connections (for personal gain)

Keywords: la guanxi, 拉关系, build connections in Chinese, Chinese networking, guanxi, curry favor, pulling strings in China, Chinese business culture, 走后门, social connections

Summary: “Lā guānxi” (拉关系) is a fundamental Chinese concept that literally means “to pull a relationship.” It refers to the act of actively building connections, often with influential people, for personal or professional gain. Unlike simply making friends, lā guānxi is a strategic, and often transactional, process used to navigate social, business, and bureaucratic landscapes in China. Understanding this term is crucial for anyone looking to grasp the nuances of Chinese culture and the importance of the “guanxi” network.

Pinyin (with tone marks): lā guānxi

Part of Speech: Verb-Object Phrase

HSK Level: HSK 5

Concise Definition: To actively establish a connection with someone, usually for personal benefit or to gain an advantage.

In a Nutshell: Think of “lā guānxi” as the Chinese equivalent of “currying favor,” “schmoozing,” or “pulling strings.” It’s the process of deliberately getting to know someone useful—a boss, a government official, a key client—not out of genuine friendship, but to create a relationship that can be leveraged later. While networking exists everywhere, “lā guānxi” often carries a slightly cynical or negative connotation, implying a calculated effort to get ahead through personal ties rather than pure merit.

拉 (lā): The most common meaning is “to pull” or “to drag.” Imagine physically pulling a rope or dragging someone closer to you.

关 (guān): This character often means “gate,” “pass,” or “to close.” In a relationship context, it represents a point of connection or a barrier to overcome.

系 (xì): This means “to tie,” “to connect,” or a “system.” It signifies the link or bond between people.

How they combine: The characters `关系 (guānxi)` together mean “relationship” or “connection.” Adding the action verb `拉 (lā)` at the beginning turns it into the act of *pulling* or *forging* that connection. You are actively trying to pull someone into your network of relationships, often by overcoming a social barrier (the “gate”).

“Lā guānxi” is a practical strategy born from the immense cultural importance of `关系 (guānxi)`. In Chinese society, a strong network of personal relationships can often be more effective than rules, regulations, or formal procedures. Therefore, actively building this network—“lā guānxi”—is seen by many as a necessary skill for success.

Comparison to “Networking”: In Western culture, “networking” is a standard professional activity, often done openly at conferences and industry events. It's generally viewed as a positive, legitimate skill. “Lā guānxi,” however, frequently operates in a gray area. It can be more private and is often accomplished through dinners, gift-giving, and doing favors, which creates a debt of `人情 (rénqíng)`—a social obligation to repay the favor. While not always corrupt, the practice can be viewed with suspicion as a way to “go through the back door” (`走后门 (zǒu hòumén)`), bypassing fairer, merit-based systems.

Related Values: The act is tied to the collective nature of Chinese society, where “who you know” is often as important as “what you know.” However, being someone who is seen as *always* trying to “lā guānxi” can be a negative trait, suggesting a person is insincere and opportunistic.

Business: A salesperson might spend weeks taking a potential client to expensive dinners and KTV (karaoke) to `拉关系` before even starting to discuss the business deal.

Bureaucracy: To speed up a permit or official document, one might try to `拉关系` with a low-level government official by finding a mutual acquaintance to make an introduction.

Personal Life: A classic example is parents trying to `拉关系` with a school principal or influential teacher to help their child get into a good school or receive better treatment.

Connotation: The term is most often used with a negative or cynical tone. Saying “他很会拉关系” (tā hěn huì lā guānxi) means “He's very good at schmoozing,” which is not a compliment. However, it can occasionally be used in a neutral, pragmatic way, as in “没办法，我们得去拉拉关系” (méi bànfǎ, wǒmen děi qù lāla guānxi), meaning “There's no other way, we have to go and build some connections.”

`关系 (guānxi)` - The foundational network of relationships. `拉关系` is the act of building that network.

`走后门 (zǒu hòumén)` - “To go through the back door.” This is often the goal or result of a successful `拉关系` effort.

`人情 (rénqíng)` - The currency of `关系`. It's the social favor or human feeling that creates an obligation to be repaid.

`面子 (miànzi)` - “Face,” or social prestige. One common way to `拉关系` is to give someone `面子` through respect, gifts, or praise.

`应酬 (yìngchou)` - A social engagement or obligation, typically a dinner or drinking event. These are the primary venues for `拉关系`.

`拍马屁 (pāi mǎpì)` - “To pat the horse's butt.” A more specific and purely negative term for flattery or sucking up, which is one tactic used to `拉关系`.

`攀关系 (pān guānxi)` - “To climb onto a relationship.” Very similar to `拉关系` but with a stronger connotation of social climbing and trying to associate with someone of a much higher status.

`打交道 (dǎ jiāodao)` - A neutral term meaning “to deal with” or “to have contact with.” You `打交道` with anyone you interact with, but you only `拉关系` with people you strategically want to get closer to.