Origin

The character 網 combines two parts to show the idea of netting. On the left is 糸, which means thread or string and serves as a classifier showing this character relates to fabric or woven material. On the right is 罔, which acts as a sound hint for pronunciation rather than adding meaning. Together, the character's visual structure—with threads suggested by the left component—evokes the appearance of a net or mesh woven from strings, which is why 網 came to mean both a physical net and, in modern usage, a network or web.

AI-generated (claude-haiku-4-5), not yet reviewed. Formation type (automated guess): Phono-semantic (meaning + sound hint).