網

Literal: A net or mesh used for fishing, bird-trapping, or general capture. Metaphorical: A trap, snare, or mechanism of entrapment (including legal entanglements, political schemes, or fate).

Noun: The physical object or an abstract system of capture. Verb: To ensnare, capture, envelop, or cast a net over.

Contrast with 罔 (without the silk radical), which typically functions as a negation (similar to 無 or 毋) or a verb meaning "to deceive" or "to delude." The presence of the silk radical usually signals a shift from abstract negation/deception toward a concrete tool or structured metaphor of entrapment.

Simplified variant: U+7F51.

The silk radical (糸) denotes woven or knotted material; the mesh may be heavy cordage or finer, depending on the target of capture.

In legalist or moralistic contexts (e.g., 天網), the glyph refers to an all-encompassing system of justice or inevitability. When translating metaphorical usage, consider whether the "capture" is a sudden snap (trap) or a gradual entanglement (web).