Guanxi

Guanxi describes the basic dynamic in personalized networks of influence. 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 guanxi describes.
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Meaning "personal connections" in Mandarin, guanxi is an informal mechanism of exchange and co-ordination between individuals rather than institutions in China. This unofficial mechanism of exchange includes everything ranging from goods and services to information in return for mutually beneficial favours, introductions and services, often in the form of invitations and gifts.