网罗 (wǎng luó) — to net, to trap (literal); to recruit, to enlist, to bring together (talents, people)

Definition

网罗 literally means 'to net/catch' and is used figuratively to mean actively gathering or recruiting people (talents, supporters) into one's fold — suggesting effort and selection.

verb
to netto trap (literal)to recruitto enlistto bring together (talents, people)

Examples

  • 网罗。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zhèng zài wǎng luó dǐng jiān rén cái.
    This company is recruiting top talent.
  • 网罗。
    Tā yòng gè zhǒng shǒu duàn wǎng luó le yì pī zhī chí zhě.
    He used various means to enlist a group of supporters.
  • 网罗。
    Yú fū yòng dà wǎng wǎng luó le hěn duō yú.
    The fisherman netted many fish with a large net.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

网wǎngnet
罗luónet

网 and 罗 both refer to nets or catching, together suggesting gathering people.

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.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 羅; 罗 is its simplified writing.

  • 网网wǎngnet
  • 維維wéibird (tied with string)

The traditional form 羅 combines 网 (net) with 維 (a bird tied with string) to show a net for catching birds; the simplified 罗 is a later abbreviation.

Open 罗 →

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