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上网 (shàng wǎng) — to go online, to access the Internet

Definition

上网 means 'to go online / use the Internet'. 上 here is used as a verb meaning to access or get on (a network), not the motion verb 上 meaning 'up' or 'to go to'.

verb
to go onlineto access the Internet

Examples

  • 上网？
    Nǐ shàng wǎng zuò shén me?
    What do you do online?
  • 。
    Wǒ shàng le yí gè xiǎo shí de wǎng.
    I was online for an hour.
  • 上网。
    Tā xǐ huan yòng shǒu jī shàng wǎng.
    He likes to go online with his phone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

上shànggo up/enter
网wǎngnet

Going up or entering combines with net to mean connect to the Internet.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 網; 网 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìrope
Sound part声符shēngfú
罔
罔wǎng網wǎng
Same sound today

The traditional form 網 pairs 糸 (rope) with 罔 to give the sound; the simplified 网 is a later shorthand.

Open 网 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 2HSK 2.0 Level 3Computers & Internet

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