漏网 (lòu wǎng) — to slip through the net; to escape unpunished | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Idiomatic verb, literally 'leak net', meaning someone bad escaped a trap, raid, or crackdown. Usually appears as the verb-object 漏网, never split in normal use.

verb

to slip through the netto escape unpunished

Examples

漏网。
Bù néng ràng zhè xiē fàn zuì fèn zǐ lòu wǎng.
We cannot let these criminals slip through the net.
漏网，。
Tā shàng cì lòu wǎng le, zhè cì bú huì zài fàng guò tā.
He escaped punishment last time; this time we won't let him off.
。
Zhè cì xíng dòng méi yǒu ràng rèn hé yí gè zuì fàn lòu le wǎng.
This operation didn't let a single criminal slip through the net.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

“漏” means slip or leak and “网” is a net, so together they suggest slipping past a net.

Characters in this word

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

水水shuǐwater
屚屚lòuto leak

漏 combines 水 (water) and 屚 (to leak), showing water leaking.

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.

Appears in

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