联系 (liánxì) is a cornerstone of modern Chinese social and professional life. While it may seem like a simple translation of “to contact,” it carries a weight that reflects a more collectivist culture. In Western, particularly American, culture, “contacting” someone can be purely transactional. You contact customer service, you contact a colleague for a specific piece of information, and the interaction can end there. In China, the act of 联系 is often the first step in building or the primary method of maintaining 关系 (guānxi), the all-important network of social relationships. Regularly making 联系 (e.g., sending a holiday greeting on WeChat, calling just to check in) is not just a friendly gesture; it's a social expectation that shows you value the relationship. It's the maintenance work required to keep your social network healthy. Failing to 保持联系 (bǎochí liánxì), or “maintain contact,” can be interpreted as a sign of disrespect or an indication that the relationship is no longer important, causing it to weaken over time. Therefore, 联系 is the functional tool used to service the deeper, more complex engine of 关系.
联系 is an extremely common and practical word you'll use daily.