联通 (lián tōng) — to connect, to link (networks, systems, places)

Definition

verb

to connectto link (networks, systems, places)

Easily confused

联通。
Zhè tiáo gāo tiě xiàn lù jiāng liǎng zuò dà chéng shì lián tōng qǐ lái.
This high-speed rail line connects two big cities.
联通。
Wǒ men gōng sī fù zé ràng suǒ yǒu bàn gōng shì de diàn nǎo lián tōng.
Our company is responsible for linking all the office computers.
联通。
Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn néng bāng zhù yòng hù yǔ quán qiú de péng you lián tōng.
This software helps users connect with friends around the world.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéSide by side

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

Both 联 and 通 carry the sense of joining or connecting, so the word means to link together.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聯; 联 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 聯 combines 耳 (ear) and 絲 (silk); 联 is a simplified form of 聯.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

辶甬通

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辶Written in full as辵chuò

Sound part声符shēngfú

甬

甬yǒng通tōng

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

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.