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网络 (Wǎng luò) — Internet; network

Definition

网络 means both the Internet (e.g. 离不开网络) and a physical network (transport, connections). 互联网 is a more formal synonym for the Internet; 网上 means 'online' as a location.

noun
Internetnetwork
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 网络。
    Xiàn zài hěn duō rén lí bù kāi Wǎng luò.
    Nowadays many people can't do without the Internet.
  • 网络。
    Zhè ge Wǎng luò lián jiē bù wěn dìng.
    This network connection is unstable.
  • 网络。
    Tā tōng guò Wǎng luò zhǎo dào le gōng zuò.
    He found a job through the Internet.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

网wǎngnet
络luònetwork

网 and 络 both refer to net-like connections, together naming a network or the Internet.

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 →

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 絡; 络 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè絡luò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 絡 pairs 糸 (thread) with 各 as a sound part, showing something wrapped in thread, like a web of thread; the simplified 络 is a later shorthand.

Open 络 →
Appears in
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