关节 guānjié joint (physiology)
joint (physiology); key point; critical phase
How to remember 关节: 关 to close + 节 section = joint (physiology).
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How it is used
- Anatomical 'joint' - 膝关节 (xī guānjié) the knee joint, 关节炎 (guānjiéyán) arthritis.
- Figuratively it means the 'key link / crux' of a matter: 问题的关节 (wèntí de guānjié). Also 打通关节 (dǎtōng guānjié) to grease the wheels by bribing the right people.