撒网 (sā wǎng) — (lit.) to cast a net (in fishing); (fig.) to cast a wide net (for opportunities, information, etc.)

Definition

A separable verb meaning 'to cast a net' — literally for fishing, figuratively for casting a wide net to gather opportunities, information, or recruits. Insert other elements between 撒 and 网.

verb
(lit.) to cast a net (in fishing)(fig.) to cast a wide net (for opportunities, information, etc.)

Examples

  • 撒网。
    Yú mín zài hǎi shàng sā wǎng bǔ yú.
    Fishermen cast nets at sea to catch fish.
  • 撒网。
    Gōng sī zhèng zài gè dì sā wǎng zhāo pìn rén cái.
    The company is casting a wide net everywhere to recruit talent.
  • 。
    Tā měi cì chū hǎi dōu yào sā sān cì wǎng.
    Every time he goes out to sea, he needs to cast the net three times.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

撒sāscatter/cast
网wǎngnet

撒 'scatter/cast' and 网 'net' combine for casting a net, literally or widely.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
散
散sàn撒sǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which gives the sound; the hand part shows scattering with the hand.

Open 撒 →

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 →

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