'Ping-pong net' refers to the narrow, stretched net that divides the table in table tennis (ping-pong) play. The word is a compound noun formed by the onomatopoeic characters 乒 and 乓—imitating the sharp, quick sounds of the ball hitting the table—and 网, meaning 'net'. Together, they specifically denote the regulation net used in competitive or recreational table tennis, typically made of fine mesh and supported by posts at either end of the table.

This term is exclusively used in sports contexts related to table tennis—not for other types of nets (e.g., fishing nets or volleyball nets). It appears in equipment descriptions, rule explanations, and match commentary. While 乒 and 乓 individually are rarely used alone, their reduplicated pairing 乒乓 is the common Chinese name for the sport itself, making 乒乓网 a natural, transparent compound understood by all Chinese speakers familiar with the game.