"Jaki jest charakter tego związku?"

Translation: What is the nature of this relationship?

[deactivated user]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't figure out what this sentence is supposed to mean. I've never seen such a sentence before. (Maybe an overly direct translation from Polish?)

[mihxal]

It means "What is the nature of this relationship?" The word "character" is not used in such a way in English? If no, then you should report it.

[Tom873317]

Nature is a much better word for the sentence

[-Relentless-]

The word character can be used in this sentence in English, but nature is way more natural and common

[one_half_3544]

why is only 'relationship' accepted as translation of związek? According to https://pl.wiktionary.org/wiki/zwi%C4%85zek , 'connection' is valid too. Or is it some set phrase?

[Jellei]

Maybe the sentence is a bit unfortunate and not obvious enough, but it almost certainly means a "związek" between two people, it's like asking whether they're dating or are just friends - and I cannot see "connection" put in such a context. So on the page you linked that would be (1.2) which is only translated as 'relationship'.

[one_half_3544]

Yes, the question is - what in this sentence makes a reader think about relationship? How would it be if someone wanted to ask about a type of chemical connection, for example?

[immery]

I actually think the Polish sentence can be a question on a chemistry exam. (is it base or acid?) I have no idea how to translate this to English though.

I think the lack of context or the word "chemiczny" makes most people disregard this possibility.

[one_half_3544]

So, without any clarifying context, it is to be assumed that związek means relationship, isn't it?

[immery]

yes. There is this sentence in English for Polish course "I am going to the union"="Idę do związku" and the comment section is filled with rage because with no context Polish sentence seems ridiculous.

Relation/connection is other meaning that does not need much context, but doest not work with this sentence.

[EdgMnH]

So, Maria, are you suggesting that a possible alternate translation could be 'What is the nature of this combination [of chemicals]?'

[Jellei]

I guess it would be "What is the nature of this chemical compound?"

But as technically we don't have anything about chemistry here...

[Celina689105]

"What is the nature of this relationship" is a valid question if you are maybe a parent or a teacher asking about a slightly dubious relationship between a teenager and an older man/woman. Or if you are genuinely questioning a new relationship you are having.