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线上 (xiàn shàng) — online

Definition

线上 means 'online' (courses, meetings, events). It contrasts with 线下 ('offline / in-person'); 网上 is the more casual everyday word for the internet, while 线上 emphasizes the online vs. in-person distinction.

noun
online
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ jīng cháng zài xiàn shàng mǎi dōng xī.
    I often buy things online.
  • 线上。
    Wǒ men de xiàn shàng huì yì míng tiān kāi shǐ.
    Our online meeting starts tomorrow.
  • 线上。
    Xiàn zài hěn duō xué shēng xuǎn zé xiàn shàng kè chéng.
    Now many students choose online courses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

线xiànline
上shàngon

线 gives the line or network, and 上 gives the sense of being on it.

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 線; 线 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
泉
泉quán線xiàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 線 uses 糹 (silk/thread) to show the meaning and 泉 to suggest the sound; the simplified 线 is a later shorthand.

Open 线 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Computers & Internet5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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