‘经纬’ literally combines ‘经’ (jīng), meaning ‘meridian’ or ‘warp’ (the vertical threads in weaving), and ‘纬’ (wěi), meaning ‘parallel’ or ‘weft’ (the horizontal threads). Together, they form a classical metaphor for the intersecting grid that defines position on Earth: longitude (经度) runs north–south, latitude (纬度) runs east–west. Thus, ‘经纬’ most commonly refers to the geographic coordinate system used in navigation, mapping, and GPS.

Figuratively, ‘经纬’ also denotes fundamental principles, organizing frameworks, or essential structures — especially in formal or literary contexts (e.g., ‘治国经纬’ — the guiding principles of state governance). This extended meaning draws from the idea of an orderly, interwoven system, much like the warp and weft of cloth. While both senses are valid, the geographic usage is far more frequent in modern spoken and written Chinese.