“Guanxi”入主外文的原因：不可代替性

原标题：GUANXI
欧阳碧波，2006年1月17日
http://www.xici.net/b302075/d34009326.htm

　　英文融入了很多中文词，Mar-jooh（麻将）算是让中国人有些无奈的一个，而这个词让我更为震惊 —— GUANXI。在 Google 中，103000 条相关联接给了我足够的理由去震惊。

对了，就是“关系”！ 　　呵，这回咱们中国人可真是长了脸了，关系一词入主外文的唯一理由就是它的不可代替性：英文也好，法文也罢，最广泛使用，最国际化的那些“大国”语言中实在找不到相应的词来翻译中国人的“关系”，于是只好借用一回了。 　　想来想去，英文中最相近的一个词应该是 relationship，可是这一个 relationship 又如何能涵盖中国人的“关系”中的深刻内涵呢？“关系”这一学问开一门专业尚且不为过，又如何能让 relationship 来诠释它的博大精深呢！ 　　“关系”学的历史实在高深，非吾辈之能究也。但古代文献中各诸侯进贡不周而遭讨伐的也并非个例，清剧中的关系手段的运用对于眼前利益的获得大有好处的例子也是屡见不鲜的。弄掉了进贡的鹅，于是怀着鹅毛去见君主而不被砍头的事儿也只有极少数，只有极为贤明的君主才能体会“情义重”的深意。 书籍《Guanxi: The art of relationship》的封面 →

　　可是走向国际，这招也不是完全行不通，二战之时，中国与俄、日等列强签订了多个条约，名为“条约”，实际上不过是按照条文割地赔款，还得堆着笑。不仅官员要“对外友好”，还要百姓们也不反对列强先生们，你不笑我就用刀子划开你的嘴，不笑也得笑！可到头来，绅士们并不吃这一套，说白了不懂咱的规矩，照旧的放枪开炮践踏咱们的大好河山，虽然这银子和地皮是照收不误的。

　　这年头，我们都知道，识时务者为俊杰，老外当年仗着枪响炮强，不懂我们的规矩我们也不能拿他们怎么样，可现在不一样了，中国一制造业的大国，你想赚上一票，呵，来吧。什么？规矩都不懂，嘿，你还问我什么叫“意思意思”，什么是“疏通”！大爷，我谢谢您了，“新红宝书”您研习过没有？没有？！小样，你一边凉快去吧，游戏规则知不知道，game rule，这都不明白，哎，怎么学文化的，真是……

　　“新红宝书”是指关系学。懂行的一路顺风，不懂的万事受阻。懂行的酒席包房间谈笑风生就万事 O.K，不懂的您可就得被玩得转起来了，开个证明，跑十个八个局子不算，还得热脸贴着人家的冷屁股。别喊冤啊，谁让你没有好好的学好文化知识，不明白要入乡随俗啊！

　　洋佬们这回可真是闷了，傻了，愣了，这一什么世界啊！看不懂也得学着点啊，于是老外决定补习一些“常识性”的问题。历史课本是《官场现形记》，必修功课是看国产剧，古装官戏尤佳，特别推荐金庸先生的《鹿鼎记》。课外时间可以在饭店、酒吧、舞厅等地全面开展，回家作业是记忆各位领导的名字职位，哦，别忘了要记各位官人们的兴趣爱好，投其所好至关重要。

　　一个人的关系网能有多大？关系网为什么使那么多人心醉神迷？虚荣、金钱，这些光芒刺眼的东西容易使人迷失了一切，拜倒在它们的足下。而这些人在网中身不由己，注定要倒一辈子，拜倒之后定是绊倒了。累了，怕了，被整了，像激流勇退，“金”盆洗手了，却发现已经深陷泥潭难以自拔了。关系与人，先是人网关系，后来必定是关系网人，得好处时执迷不悟，明白过来了却早就被套牢。

　　渔者撒网也得愿者自投，一个人扯不出一张网，一旦有几个人拉出了一张网，就可以把一大片人一起拖入泥潭，甚至弄垮一个民族，一个国家。当一个民族被罩进了这样一张网，还能谈什么和谐，什么民主，什么发展呢！对于中国的一些问题，一直喜欢林语堂先生的一段话：“我可以把她的麻烦公之于世，因为我没有失去希望，中国比她那些小小的爱国者要伟大得多，所以不需要她们来涂脂抹粉。”

　　事到如今，倒宁愿这只是一场暴风雪：庄稼坏了，来年还能再长，屋子塌了，总能努力再建起来，猛一些，教训重一些，彻底一些。暴风雨过后，太阳会再出来，说不定，还会有一道彩虹在天边。

附件1：Wiki 的解释

Guanxi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanxi

''Guānxi'' describes the basic dynamic in the complex nature of personalized networks of influence and social relationships, and is a central concept in Chinese society. In Western media, the pinyin romanization of this Chinese word is becoming more widely used instead of the two common translations—"connections" and "relationships"—as neither of those terms sufficiently reflect the wide cultural implications that guānxi describes.

Closely related concepts include that of gǎnqíng, a measure which reflects the depth of feeling within an interpersonal relationship, rénqíng, the moral obligation to maintain the relationship, and "face", divided into the concepts of "mian" (or "mianzi") meaning social status and prestige, and liǎn, the idea of being perceived as a morally correct actor within society.

Description

At its most basic, guānxi describes a personal connection between two people in which one is able to prevail upon another to perform a favor or service, or be prevailed upon. The two people need not to be of equal social status. Guānxi can also be used to describe a network of contacts, which an individual can call upon when something needs to be done, and through which he or she can exert influence on behalf of another. In addition, guānxi can describe a state of general understanding between two people: "he/she is aware of my wants/needs and will take them into account when deciding her/his course of future actions which concern or could concern me without any specific discussion or request".

The term is not generally used to describe relationships within a family, although guānxi obligations can sometimes be described in terms of an extended family. The term is also not generally used to describe relationships that fall within other well-defined societal norms (e.g. boss-worker, teacher-student, friendship). The relationships formed by guānxi are personal and not transferable.

When a guānxi network violates bureaucratic norms, it can lead to corruption, and guānxi can also form the basis of patron-client relations.

Usage examples

Someone is described as having good guānxi if their particular network of influence could assist in the resolution of the problem currently being spoken about.

The most common response to indicate acceptance of an apology in Standard Mandarin is méi(yǒu) guānxi (沒(有)關係/没(有)关系) which literally translated means "doesn't have guānxi [implications]". A similar expression in English would be "I won't hold it against you."

Guānxi is most often used in the press when guānxi obligations take precedence over civic duties, leading to nepotism and cronyism [1] [2].

Similar concepts in other cultures

Sociologists have linked guanxi with the concept of social capital (it has been described as a Gemeinschaft value structure), and it has been exhaustively described in studies of Chinese economic and political behavior, including those listed below.

In Middle Eastern culture, wasta is a similar concept; in Italy, raccomandato and raccomandazione are similar concepts.

附件2：书籍摘要

GUANXI AND BUSINESS by Yadong Luo (University of Miami, USA) Guanxi or interpersonal relationships is one of the major dynamics of Chinese society. A pervasive part of the Chinese business world for the last few centuries, it binds literally millions of Chinese firms into a social and business web.

Any business in this society, including local firms and foreign investors and marketers, inevitably faces guanxi dynamics. In China's new, fast-paced business environment, guanxi has been more entrenched than ever, heavily influencing Chinese social behavior and business practice.

However, as in other emerging economies, corruption in China is becoming more rampant, which makes guanxi and corruption often intermingled. As such, business executives need to place greater caution today in the practice and process of guanxi development and utilization.

Due to the growing academic and practical interest in guanxi, this second edition provides a timely update to the systematic and vigorous exploration of the various social, economic, cultural, and business issues relating to the complex concept and practice of guanxi.

Contents: Definition, Principles, and Philosophy of Guanxi Economic Perspective of Guanxi Guanxi and Firm Performance Organizational Dynamics and Guanxi Guanxi-Based Business Strategies Foreign Businesses and Guanxi Guanxi, Corruption and Governance Practical Guidelines to Guanxi Cultivation

书籍《Guanxi》的封面