网络

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wǎngluò: 网络 - Network, Internet

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: wangluo, wǎngluò, 网络, Chinese for internet, Chinese for network, what does wangluo mean, what is 网络, learn Chinese internet, online in Chinese
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 网络 (wǎngluò), the essential Chinese word for “network” and, most importantly, “the Internet.” This page breaks down the characters 网 (net) and 络 (connect), explores its profound cultural impact in modern China, and provides practical examples for everyday use, from “going online” (上网) to discussing internet speed. Learn how to use 网络 (wǎngluò) correctly and understand its central role in Chinese digital life.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): wǎngluò
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: A network of interconnected things; the Internet.
  • In a Nutshell: 网络 (wǎngluò) literally translates to “net-work” or “net-system.” Imagine a spider's web (蜘蛛网, zhīzhūwǎng) or a fishing net—that's the core visual. This simple, tangible concept was perfectly adapted to describe abstract systems, from computer networks to the vast, interconnected global system we call the Internet. In modern daily conversation, when someone says 网络, they are almost always referring to “the Internet.”

Character Breakdown

  • 网 (wǎng): This character is a pictograph of a net, complete with intersecting lines. Think of a fishing net, a tennis net, or a spiderweb. It represents the idea of a grid or a web-like structure.
  • 络 (luò): This character means “to connect,” “to enmesh,” or a “net-like object.” The left part, 纟(sī), is the “silk” radical, indicating something related to threads or fibers. The right part provides the pronunciation. It carries the sense of pathways or connecting threads within a system.
  • Together, 网络 (wǎngluò) combines “net” + “connecting threads” to create a powerful and intuitive word for any interconnected system, most notably the Internet.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The Internet as a Separate Ecosystem: While the English term “the Internet” often implies a single, global, and relatively open space, 网络 (wǎngluò) in China is experienced within a unique context. The existence of the “Great Firewall” (防火长城, fánghuǒ chángchéng) means that the Chinese 网络 is a distinct digital ecosystem. Access to many Western sites (like Google, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) is blocked, leading to the rise of powerful domestic equivalents like Baidu (百度), WeChat (微信), and Weibo (微博). For a learner, it's crucial to understand that a Chinese friend's experience of “the internet” is fundamentally different from a Western one.
  • Total Integration into Daily Life: The 网络 is arguably more deeply integrated into the fabric of daily life in China than in many Western countries. Super-apps like WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) are not just for messaging; they are an all-in-one platform for payments (WeChat Pay), booking appointments, ordering food, accessing government services, and more. This has made mobile internet access (and thus, the 网络) an indispensable utility for survival and social participation in modern urban China. The phrase “没有网络 (méiyǒu wǎngluò)“—”to not have internet”—can mean being cut off from basic societal functions.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Referring to “The Internet”: This is the most common usage. If you're talking about an internet connection, online activities, or the digital world in general, 网络 is the word to use.
  • Collocations (Common Word Pairings): 网络 is a building block for many other digital terms:
    • 社交网络 (shèjiāo wǎngluò): Social network (e.g., Facebook, WeChat)
    • 网络游戏 (wǎngluò yóuxì): Online game
    • 网络购物 (wǎngluò gòuwù): Online shopping
    • 网络安全 (wǎngluò ānquán): Cybersecurity / Internet security
    • 网络信号 (wǎngluò xìnhào): Internet signal
  • Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. A more technical and formal term for “the Internet” is 互联网 (hùliánwǎng), but 网络 is far more common in everyday speech.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我家里的网络太慢了，看视频一直卡。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ jiālǐ de wǎngluò tài màn le, kàn shìpín yīzhí kǎ.
    • English: The internet at my house is too slow; videos keep buffering when I watch them.
    • Analysis: A very common complaint. This shows 网络 used to mean “internet connection/service.” “卡 (kǎ)” is slang for “to lag” or “to get stuck.”
  • Example 2:
    • 现在网络技术发展得非常快。
    • Pinyin: Xiànzài wǎngluò jìshù fāzhǎn de fēicháng kuài.
    • English: Nowadays, internet technology is developing very quickly.
    • Analysis: Here, 网络 is used in a more general sense to refer to the entire field of internet technology.
  • Example 3:
    • 你必须连接到网络才能发送这封电子邮件。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ bìxū liánjiē dào wǎngluò cáinéng fāsòng zhè fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn.
    • English: You must be connected to the internet to send this email.
    • Analysis: This example highlights the function of 网络 as the medium for digital communication.
  • Example 4:
    • 网络给我们带来了方便，也带来了一些问题。
    • Pinyin: Wǎngluò gěi wǒmen dàilái le fāngbiàn, yě dàilái le yīxiē wèntí.
    • English: The internet has brought us convenience, but it has also brought some problems.
    • Analysis: A balanced, philosophical statement about the dual nature of the internet, suitable for more formal discussion or writing.
  • Example 5:
    • 很多年轻人沉迷于网络游戏。
    • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén chénmí yú wǎngluò yóuxì.
    • English: Many young people are addicted to online games.
    • Analysis: Here, 网络 acts as an adjective, modifying “游戏 (yóuxì)” to specify “online” games.
  • Example 6:
    • 这是一个本地的计算机网络，没有连接到互联网。
    • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī ge běndì de jìsuànjī wǎngluò, méiyǒu liánjiē dào Hùliánwǎng.
    • English: This is a local computer network; it is not connected to the Internet.
    • Analysis: This sentence is crucial for showing the original meaning of 网络 as a “network” distinct from the global Internet (互联网, Hùliánwǎng).
  • Example 7:
    • 警方正在追踪罪犯的网络活动。
    • Pinyin: Jǐngfāng zhèngzài zhuīzōng zuìfàn de wǎngluò huódòng.
    • English: The police are tracking the criminal's online activities.
    • Analysis: Shows 网络 used to describe the domain where activities take place (“online”).
  • Example 8:
    • 你的手机有网络信号吗？我发不出消息。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ de shǒujī yǒu wǎngluò xìnhào ma? Wǒ fā bù chū xiāoxi.
    • English: Does your phone have an internet signal? I can't send messages.
    • Analysis: A very practical, everyday question. “网络信号 (wǎngluò xìnhào)” refers to the mobile data or Wi-Fi signal.
  • Example 9:
    • 网络暴力是一个严重的社会问题。
    • Pinyin: Wǎngluò bàolì shì yī ge yánzhòng de shèhuì wèntí.
    • English: Cyberbullying (network violence) is a serious social problem.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates how 网络 is used to form compound words for internet-specific concepts.
  • Example 10:
    • 通过网络，我们可以了解世界各地的新闻。
    • Pinyin: Tōngguò wǎngluò, wǒmen kěyǐ liǎojiě shìjiè gèdì de xīnwén.
    • English: Through the internet, we can learn about news from all over the world.
    • Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the role of the 网络 as a source of information.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • “Network” of People vs. “Network” of Computers: This is the most critical pitfall for English speakers. In English, “network” can mean a social or professional group of people (“I need to expand my professional network”). You cannot use 网络 (wǎngluò) for this. 网络 almost exclusively refers to a technological or physical network (internet, computers, transportation).
    • Incorrect: 我需要扩大我的网络来找工作。 (Wǒ xūyào kuòdà wǒ de wǎngluò lái zhǎo gōngzuò.)
    • Correct: 我需要扩大人脉来找工作。 (Wǒ xūyào kuòdà rénmài lái zhǎo gōngzuò.)
    • Analysis: For a network of people or connections, you should use terms like 人脉 (rénmài) or 关系网 (guānxìwǎng).
  • 网络 (wǎngluò) vs. 互联网 (hùliánwǎng): While both can mean “the Internet,” 网络 is the common, everyday term. 互联网 is more formal, technical, and specifically refers to the global “Internet” as a proper noun. In 95% of daily conversations, 网络 is the word you'll hear and use.
  • 网络 (wǎngluò) vs. 网 (wǎng): 网 (wǎng) is often used as a shorthand prefix or verb component related to the internet. For example, the action of “getting online” is 上网 (shàng wǎng), not “上网络 (shàng wǎngluò)”. Similarly, a website is 网站 (wǎngzhàn) and an internet cafe is 网吧 (wǎngbā). Think of 网 (wǎng) as the “net-” or “cyber-” prefix.

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 上网 (shàng wǎng) - “To go on the net”; the verb for getting online or browsing the internet.
  • 互联网 (hùliánwǎng) - The more formal and technical term for “The Internet.”
  • 网站 (wǎngzhàn) - “Net station”; a website.
  • 网友 (wǎngyǒu) - “Net friend”; a netizen or an online friend.
  • 网吧 (wǎngbā) - “Net bar”; an internet cafe.
  • 防火长城 (fánghuǒ chángchéng) - “Firewall Great Wall”; the colloquial term for The Great Firewall of China, which censors the internet.
  • 社交网络 (shèjiāo wǎngluò) - “Social interaction network”; the specific term for a social network like Facebook or WeChat.
  • 关系网 (guānxìwǎng) - “Relationship network”; the proper term for a personal or professional network of contacts. This is what English speakers often mean by “network.”
  • 人脉 (rénmài) - “Person's arteries/veins”; personal connections or social network, very similar to `关系网`.
  • 电信网络 (diànxìn wǎngluò) - Telecommunications network; a more technical term referring to the infrastructure of phone and data lines.