Having the right personal connections (guanxi) makes it easier to get things done, whether in business, bureaucracy, or daily life.
This reflects the deep importance of 'guanxi' (关系) in Chinese society, where personal networks often matter more than formal rules or merit.
It acknowledges the practical reality that relationships lubricate social and professional interactions. It also signals the cultural expectation to build and maintain networks, and it can be said with a mix of cynicism and pragmatism—recognizing that this is how the world works.
Draw random cards from hundreds of real Chinese folk sayings and proverbs. Each flip reveals what Chinese people actually mean.
🎴 Play Chinese Wisdom Cards