Ten words, every one of them ordinary in Chinese media: 科技, 技术, 电脑, 手机, 互联网, 视频, 信息, 网站, 短信 and 上网.
They share 技 and learners swap them freely, but they are different sizes. 科技 (kē jì) is science and technology as a field, the word in 科技公司 and 科技新闻. 技术 (jì shù) is a specific technique or skill: 技术问题 is a technical fault, and 他的技术很好 praises a person's craft. A second pair behaves the same way. 信息 (xìn xī) is information, the content of a message or a database, while 消息 (xiāo xi) is a piece of news, the sort that reaches you from somewhere.
互 is mutual, 联 is to connect and 网 is a net, so the word describes a mutually connected net. It names the Internet specifically, whereas 网络 is any network at all, including a phone signal or a transport system. 上网 is not one solid verb but a verb plus its object, so it splits when something comes between the halves: 上了网, 上过网, 上不了网. Treating it as an unbreakable block is a reliable sign the phrase was memorized whole.
Trace the guided strokes, then rewrite each word with the model covered. These characters recur constantly in reading, so accuracy is worth more here than speed. Carry on to the HSK 4 lessons hub, or cover the everyday layer of the same field on the phones and digital life sheet.
Words on this worksheet: 科技 (kē jì) — science and technology; 技术 (jìshù) — technology; 电脑 (diànnǎo) — Computer; 手机 (shǒujī) — Mobile phone; 互联网 (hùliánwǎng) — Internet; 视频 (shìpín) — video; 信息 (xìnxī) — information; 网站 (wǎngzhàn) — website; 短信 (duǎnxìn) — message; 上网 (shàngwǎng) — Surf the Internet. Hear these words in beginner Mandarin songs.科技 names the field of science and technology, as in 科技新闻 or a 科技公司. 技术 names a particular technique, technology or personal skill, as in 技术问题 or 他的技术很好. They share the character 技, which is what makes them easy to confuse.
No. 信息 is information: data, content, the substance of a message. 消息 is a piece of news or word from someone, the sort of thing that arrives. A database holds 信息; a friend passes on a 消息. Both appear in HSK 4 reading passages.
互联网 refers to the Internet itself, while 网络 is any network, whether digital, telephone or transport. In most everyday sentences about being online either will pass, but technical writing keeps the distinction, and 网络 is far broader.
All ten are common in exam passages, with 信息, 网站, 短信 and 上网 especially frequent in the everyday-life texts. Writing them by hand is the fastest way to stop hesitating over the ones that look alike, such as 信息 and 消息.