通

• Pinyin: tōng
• Hanzi breakdown: 通 = 辶 (walk radical) + 甬 (path/corridor, phonetic)

Meaning

To go through; to be connected; to get through. Indicates passage, connection, or successful communication.

A versatile character meaning something is open, connected, or successfully reached. Common in phone calls (打通 = get through), roads (通到 = lead to), and understanding (通 = to understand thoroughly). Also appears in compounds like 交通 (traffic) and 通知 (notification).

Examples

1. 这条路能通到学校。 This road leads to the school.
2. 我给他打电话，打了三次才打通。 I called him and it took three tries to get through.
3. 这两个房间是通的。 These two rooms are connected.

Usage Guide

Context: directions, communication, everyday

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 电话打通了吗？(Did the call get through?)
• 这条小路通到公园。(This path leads to the park.)

Don't Say

• 我通了中文。(Don't use 通 alone to mean 'I understand Chinese' — say 我学通了中文 or more naturally 我学会了中文.)

Origin & History

Composed of 辶 (walk radical) + 甬 (path/corridor). The idea of walking through a corridor gives rise to meanings of passage and connection.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal