daa2 tung1 gwaan1 hai6打通關係打通关系
Jyutpingdaa2 tung1 gwaan1 hai6
Yaledá tūng gwāan haih
Definition
To bribe officials and establish connections with them to make future matters easier to handle.
colloquialworkmoney
How it's used
This phrase is a euphemism that softens the act of bribery by framing it as building connections or networking. It implies a transactional relationship where money or favors are exchanged for access or influence. While it can refer to literal bribery, it is also used more broadly to describe navigating bureaucracy through personal influence.
Examples
He needs to pull some strings to get the project done.
Do you really think bribing people can solve the problem?
Related words
Common phrases
to bribe people at all levels of an organization
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply making friends or networking, which is usually expressed as 建立關係. Using 打通關係 carries a strong implication of under-the-table dealings or illicit influence that can sound quite cynical or accusatory.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
