noun HSK 5
Traditional 互聯網
Internet · the Web
Meaning
互联网 is the standard Mandarin term for the Internet. It literally means 'mutually connected network' and refers to the global system of interconnected computer networks. This is the formal and most widely used term in mainland China for referring to the Internet as a whole.
Usage
This is the formal, standard term used in news, academic writing, and official contexts. In casual conversation, people often shorten it to 网 (wǎng) or say 上网 (shàng wǎng, 'go online'). It's commonly used with verbs like 上 (to go on), 用 (to use), and 通过 (via/through).
Examples
- 01现在很多人每天都离不开互联网。.Nowadays many people can't live without the Internet every day.
- 02他在一家互联网公司工作。.He works at an Internet company.
Characters
Common collocations
- 互联网时代Internet era
- 互联网公司Internet company
- 移动互联网mobile Internet
- 通过互联网via the Internet
Origin
The term is a calque combining 互 (mutual) + 联 (connected) + 网 (network), coined in the 1990s to translate 'Internet' into Chinese. It emphasizes the interconnected nature of the global network.