'Relation' and 'Relationship'

Mehrgan said:

Hi there,
Would anyone please tell me the difference between the two? Can they be used interchangably?


Thanks a lot.

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emsr2d2 said:

A relation is someone that you are connected to by blood. Also called a relative. (There is another meaning but I think this is the one that you are probably referring to here.)

A relationship is something that you have with another person, an animal etc.

Many of my relations came to my wedding.

What is your relationship to David Jones?
He's my brother.

I have a great relationship with my father.

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Mehrgan said:

Many thanks for the reply. Actually, by "realation" I meant the other meaning. Sometimes we hear "He has good relations with...". Can we use relationship instead? Thanks.

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emsr2d2 said:

I have heard "has good relations with" and I don't like it! It doesn't sound natural to me. I would always say "a good/bad relationship with..."

Sorry, when I said there was another meaning for relation, I was talking about when we use it like this, for example:

I am writing in relation to your letter of last week...

That has nothing to do with "relations" i.e. members of your family.

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