相关
xiāngguān · HSK 3
associated
🔗 相关 = mutual (相) + connection/barrier (关) → mutually connected
相 means mutual/each-other; 关 means to close, pass, or connection. Together they describe things that share a connection — related, associated, or interrelated.
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'.