公共交换电话网

• 八(eight; split in two)RADICAL
• 厶(private; personal)ASSOCIATIVE

Public means sharing your private things with everyone to become shared property.

• 廾(two hands lifting up)ASSOCIATIVE
• 一(one; together)ASSOCIATIVE
• 八(eight)PHONETIC

Two hands lifting an object together convey the meaning of "together" or "shared."

• 六(six; intersection)ASSOCIATIVE
• 乂(cross; intersect)PHONETIC

Two diagonal lines crossing like human legs stepping represent intersection and exchange.

• 扌(hand)RADICAL
• 奂(bright and splendid; change)PHONETIC

Using hands to exchange back and forth is the act of swapping.

• 曰(speak; bright cloud)ASSOCIATIVE
• 乚(lightning bolt; hook stroke (downward))ASSOCIATIVE

A flash of lightning bursts bright through the clouds—that is electricity itself!

• 言(speech; words)RADICAL
• 舌(blade; tongue)PHONO-SEMANTIC

Speech is what is created from the tongue.

• 糹(silk thread; filament)RADICAL
• 罔(net; without)PHONO-SEMANTIC

Silk threads woven together form a net to catch fish, just like a network that spreads everywhere.