Examples synchronization signal configuration methods and apparatus are described. One example method is applied to a relay network including a first node and a second node, and the first node is a parent node of the second node. The example method includes sending synchronization signal configuration information by the first node to the second node, where the synchronization signal configuration information is used to indicate M first synchronization signal time-frequency positions and N second synchronization signal time-frequency positions in a candidate synchronization signal time-frequency position set. The first synchronization signal time-frequency position is used by the second node to send a first synchronization signal, the second synchronization signal time-frequency position is used by the second node to receive or detect a second synchronization signal, the candidate synchronization signal time-frequency position set includes W synchronization signal time-frequency positions, and W≥(M+N).