拉网 (lā wǎng) — to pull a fishing net; to haul in a fishing net

Definition

拉网 literally means to haul in a fishing net, but it is also used figuratively for a sweeping dragnet operation (e.g. police raids). The figurative sense is what you'll most often meet at HSK 7.

verb
to pull a fishing netto haul in a fishing net

Examples

  • 拉网
    Yú mín men měi tiān zǎo shàng chū hǎi lā wǎng.
    The fishermen go out to sea every morning to pull nets.
  • Tā men jīn tiān lā le sān biàn wǎng cái bǔ dào yú.
    Today they pulled the net three times before catching fish.
  • 拉网
    Jǐng fāng zhǎn kāi le yí cì dà guī mó de lā wǎng xíng dòng.
    The police launched a large-scale dragnet operation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

拉 (pull) moves 网 (net).

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
shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

拉 pairs 手 (hand) with 立, a component that supplies the sound.

Open 拉 →

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
rope
Sound part声符shēngfú
wǎngwǎng
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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