Abstract: Since its introduction to the sociological academia in China， the concept of social capital has such a great impact that many scholars claim it to be a method or a framework for studying and explaining Chinese social networks. However， many issues become covert when the two concepts of social capital and guanxi are merging. By comparing the extent of their abstractness， compatibility， and social types， respectively， this paper argues that guanxi studies are rooted in familyoriented society， whereas socialcapital studies are rooted in civil society. The two differ in individual choice， membership qualification， public or private interests， participation action， and citizenship. This paper also discusses their respective direction for extended research.

Key words: civil society, family orientation, guanxi, social capital