'联网' (liánwǎng) is a verb meaning 'to connect to a network'—most commonly referring to the internet, but also applicable to local area networks (LANs), Wi-Fi, or other digital communication systems. The character 联 (lián) means 'to connect, link, or join', while 网 (wǎng) literally means 'net' or 'network', evoking imagery of interconnected nodes—like a fishing net or web. Together, they form a compound that emphasizes the action of establishing a functional digital connection.

This term is widely used in everyday tech contexts: setting up devices, troubleshooting connectivity, or describing system requirements. It appears in both formal instructions ('请确保设备已联网') and casual speech ('手机没联网，发不了消息'). Unlike more technical terms like '接入互联网' (jiērù hùliánwǎng), '联网' is concise, neutral in register, and preferred in spoken and written Chinese for general network connectivity.