網 (wǎng) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

網

wǎng[wang3]Tone 3

net

HSK 1

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网

Guru Deep Dive

English · net

Cached lesson

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Topology:Top-bottom

Strokes:6

Writing Balance Rule: The top crown (rì component variant) is compressed horizontally, while the lower mesh structure spreads out evenly with symmetrical enclosing hooks.

Simplification Logic: Simplified from 網 by replacing the complex internal threads with a simplified mesh structure (derived from 罓).

1. Meaning

net, web, network

internetcatch with a net

Noun / Classifier / Bound MorphemeNeutral#technology#fishing#tools

Sample Usage

上网
shàng wǎng
to go online
网络
wǎng luò
network, internet

2. Sound

/[wɑŋ²¹⁴]/Tone: 214

網

wǎngwang3

ˇ(214)

=wǎng

Initial Consonant

Type: Labio-Velar Glide (Zero Initial)

Sounds like: w sound like in water

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Round lips tightly before gliding into vowel.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Lips rounded, back of tongue raised toward soft palate

Final Rhyme

ang

Vowel Group: -a vowel group

Sounds like: -ang rhymes with song or bang

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'ahng'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T3 (214)

2 → 1 → 4 (214)

3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips low and rises, similar to saying 'What?' in disbelief.

Sandhi: When followed by another 3rd tone, it changes to a 2nd tone (rising 35).

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the low dipping tone 3 with tone 4, or mishearing the nasal ending as an 'n' instead of 'ng'.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: Start medium-high, dip down low to your chest, and sweep back up into the air like tracing a fishing net dipping into water and pulling up.

3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 6 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The top crown (rì component variant) is compressed horizontally, while the lower mesh structure spreads out evenly with symmetrical enclosing hooks.

Simplification Logic: Simplified from 網 by replacing the complex internal threads with a simplified mesh structure (derived from 罓).

4. Components

Radical 罓 · Net Radical (net)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 罓 (indicates a net used for catching)

Phonetic Clue (声旁): 亡 (original sound: wáng)

The character combines the net radical 罓 at the top with 亡 (wáng - to disappear/escape) at the bottom, symbolizing a net designed to trap things so they cannot escape.

罓 net
亡 to perish or flee (providing sound and hint of trapping what tries to escape)

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

5· Phonetic Root: 罔 (wǎng)

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally a pictograph of a knotted fishing net or bird-catching net made of ropes, later regularized with a phonetic component.

Semantic Evolution: From physical fishing and hunting nets to modern metaphorical networks, webs, and the internet.

Ancient fishing nets were woven from hemp plants.
The character's shape directly mirrors the criss-cross knot pattern of ancient meshes.

6. Sinosphere

🇻🇳

Sino-Vietnamese

võ

Mandarin tone 3 corresponds roughly to Vietnamese hỏi/ngã contour.

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: モウ (mō) / Kun: あみ (ami)

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

망

Sound Shift Bridge: The ending -ang corresponds to Japanese -ou/-o and Korean -ang.

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

Imagine throwing a fishing NET (网) over a runaway thief who is trying to FLEE (亡), trapping him instantly in the mesh.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

忙

mángbusyHeart radical on the left + phonetic 亡

忘

wàngto forgetHeart underneath + phonetic 亡

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

亡(wáng)

亡 lacks the net crown on top; it just means to die or escape.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

我每天都要用電腦上[___]。

Clue: wǎng

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing the tone 3 dip and writing the character with incorrect proportions in the top net crown.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 网, what does it mean and how is it pronounced in Tone 3?

Production: How do you write the Chinese character for 'net / internet' with 6 strokes?

網wǎngnet

Speed:

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