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网上 (wǎng shang) — online; on the internet

Definition

网上 is the everyday spoken word for 'online' — used as a place word (在∼聊天). 网络 is the more technical 'network/Internet' (noun), and 在线 means the state of being online (verb/adjective).

noun
onlineon the internet

Examples

  • 网上。
    Wǒ zài wǎng shang mǎi le hěn duō dōng xī.
    I bought a lot of things online.
  • 网上？
    Nǐ xǐ huan zài wǎng shang liáo tiān ma?
    Do you like chatting online?
  • 网上。
    Tā zài wǎng shang kàn diàn yǐng.
    He watches movies online.

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.

网wǎngnet
上shàngon

网 means net and 上 means on, so it refers to being on the 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.

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 →

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
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