关联
guān lián · HSK 6
related
🔗 关 gate + 联 connect — linked by passing through the same gate
A gate (关) that joins (联) two sides together. Whatever crosses the same barrier shares a bond — related, affiliated.
关 — door 门 + simplified 关 inside
关 is the simplified form of 關. The traditional character showed a gate (門) with a bolt or crossbar inside, depicting a barred door — hence 'to close' or 'shut'. Meaning later extended to 'pass' (a guarded gate), 'barrier', and figuratively 'concern' or 'connection'.