【Learn Chinese】5 Chinese Words about the Internet

Have you ever thought about how different life was before the digital age? The Internet has changed everything, including how we learn new languages. Today, more and more people are taking language courses online, using apps, joining online language exchange programs, or even learning through Zoom.
None of this would be possible without the Internet, one of the greatest inventions ever!

Net/Internet 网
网 (net; wǎng) is the simplified form of 網, which is a combination of 糸 (silk) and 罔 (to deceive). In some contexts, 网 can mean the “Internet.”
The Internet was invented through a series of developments and innovations that began in the 1960s. However, the term “Internet” only started to be used in the 1980s, and by the 1990s, with the invention of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee, the Internet became accessible to the general public, revolutionizing global communication and information sharing

Surf the Internet 上网
上 (to get on) + 网 (the Internet) = 上网 (shàng wǎng; surf the Internet)
Chinese internet users are highly active, and social media and video content dominate their online activities. Platforms like WeChat and Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) are extremely popular, with WeChat boasting more than 1 billion daily active users.
Additionally, the average time spent online each day is about 5 hours and 33 minutes, highlighting the significant role the Internet plays in daily life in China. 上网 can also mean “connect to the Internet” or “have access to the Internet.”

Machine 机
机 (jī; machine) is composed of 木 (tree/wood) and 几 (table). 木 provides the meaning, while 几 indicates the sound of the compound character 机. We would like to interpret it as, in ancient times, a lot of machines were made of wood.

Cell Phone 手机
手 (hand) + 机 (machine) = 手机 (shǒu jī; cell phone/mobile phone)
The “machine” (机) that can be held by “hand” (手) easily – that’s cell phone! In China, cell phones (手机) are incredibly popular and integral to daily life. Chinese people rely on their smartphones for a wide range of activities, including communication, social networking, shopping, and entertainment.
One of the most notable uses of mobile phones in China is for mobile payments. Platforms like WeChat Pay and Alipay have revolutionized the way transactions are conducted, making cashless payments the norm in China.

Access the Internet on Mobile 手机上网
手机 (cell/mobile phone) + 上网 (surf the Internet) = 手机上网 (shǒu jī shàng wǎng; access internet on mobile)
According to the Chinese government, there are more than 1.09 billion internet users in China, and 99% of them access the internet on their mobile phones (手机上网). What an interesting statistical fact!