How to say "relationship" in Japanese

• 関係かんけいJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe broad, neutral word for a relationship or connection of any kind — between people, groups, countries, or things. When you just mean 'relationship' without special emphasis, this is the default choice.
  これとあれはどういう関係かんけいがあるの。↗

  How is this connected to that?
• つながりJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounViews a relationship as a link or tie — the fact that people or things are connected. It suits talk of connections between people, groups, or events, where the linking itself is the point.
  オランダ語ごはドイツ語どいつごと密接みっせつなつながりがある。↗

  Dutch is closely related to German.
• 仲なかJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe relationship between people in the sense of how well they get along — closeness, friendliness, or estrangement. It is about the personal side of a relationship rather than formal or structural ties.
  私は彼かれとは訪問ほうもんし合あう仲なかだ。↗

  I am on visiting terms with him.
• 間柄あいだがらJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe relationship between two particular people — the terms they are on, often as family or as acquaintances. It names the standing between specific individuals rather than relationships in general.
  君きみと彼かれとはどういう間柄あいだがらなのだ。↗

  What's your relation with him?
• 絆きずなCommon
  nounAn emotional bond between people — deep ties of family, friendship, or shared experience. It carries warmth and strength, so it is not the neutral word for a relationship as such.
  その兄弟きょうだいの間あいだには強つよい絆きずながある。↗

  There is a strong bond between the brothers.

Use 関係 for relationships in general, 「つながり」 for the sense of connection or link, 仲 for how well people get along, 間柄 for the standing between two particular people, and 絆 for emotional bonds.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 関係かんけいrelation
• つながりconnection
• 仲なかrelation
• 間柄あいだがらrelationship
• 絆きずなbond (between people)
• 絡みからみlinkage
• 関わり合いかかわりあいrelationship
• リレーションシップrelationship
• 係り合いかかりあいrelationship
• 関係性かんけいせいrelationship
• 縁由えんゆconnection
• 関連性かんれんせいrelatedness
• 続柄つづきがら(family) relationship
• 交渉こうしょうconnection
• 折り合いおりあいrelationship
• 縁えんrelationship (e.g. between two people)
• 引っ掛かりひっかかりconnection
• ご縁ごえんrelationship
• 間あいだrelations (between)
• 訳わけ(romantic) relationship