關系上,我們要看詞綴.
我正好在學詞源學,詞綴分為前綴prefix和后綴suffix,后綴往往改變單詞的意思和詞性.
這個－ship,表示的是一種：關系,是那種抽象的關系,內在的關系.
具體區(qū)別見下面：
這兩個詞,概括來說,指關系時是相同的,無分特殊和一般關系,尤其用于指事物之間的關系：
Some doctors think there is a relation between smoking and lung cancer.
有些醫(yī)生認為吸煙與肺癌有關連.
Scientists have researched into the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.
科學家曾研究吸煙與肺癌的關系.
There is no proof of the relation of crime to TV violence.
無證據(jù)顯示罪案是和電視上的暴力有關的.
I am doubtless about the relationship of diligence to success.
我絕不懷疑勤奮與成功的關系.
“What relation is he to you?”“He is nephew to me./He is my nephew.”
“他和你有何關系?”“他是我的侄兒.”
“What is his relationship to/with you?”
“他和你有何關系?”
（注：這句不能說成：“What is his relation to you?”）
在以上情況下,即使有分別,relation側重形式上的關連,而 relationship卻側重密切的交往.例如：
John's relation with Mary is father and daughter.
約翰和瑪麗是父母關系.
John's relationship with Mary has improved.
約翰和瑪麗的關系已改善了.
Relation和relationship最大分別在于relation用于較廣,可帶別的涵義,如：
（一）加了s,變成復數(shù)的relations指密切交往上的關系而非形式上的關系.例：family relations、 business relations、foreign relations、friendly relations（但也可寫成friendly relationship、a love－h(huán)ate relationship）.
（二）解作“親屬”,相等于relative.但一般已多用relative代替 relation：
My niece is my near relation/relative.
我的侄女是我的近親.
（三）用在固定詞組里,如：in relation to（有concerning的含義）：
He was arrested in relation to the murder case.
他涉及那樁謀殺案被拘捕.
Questions have been raised in relation to the legality of abortion.
對于墮胎的合法性有人提出質疑.