通行

• Pinyin: tōng xíng
• Hanzi breakdown: 通 = to pass through; 行 = to go — to pass through, to be in common use

Meaning

To pass through; to be passable; to be in common use. Moving through a place or being commonly accepted.

Two main meanings: 1) Traffic/passage: 道路通行 (road is passable), 禁止通行 (no entry), 通行证 (pass, permit). 2) Common usage: 通行做法 (common practice), 国际通行标准 (internationally accepted standards). Common collocations: 通行能力 (traffic capacity), 单向通行 (one-way traffic), 双向通行 (two-way traffic).

Examples

1. 这条路正在施工，暂时禁止车辆通行。 This road is under construction, and vehicles are temporarily prohibited from passing.
2. 持有效证件的人员可以通行。 Personnel with valid credentials may pass through.
3. 这种做法在国际上已经通行多年。 This practice has been commonly used internationally for many years.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, regulations, standards

Tone: official

Do Say

• 前方道路禁止通行。(The road ahead is closed to traffic.)
• 请出示您的通行证。(Please show your pass.)

Don't Say

• 散步不用'通行'，用'走'或'经过' (For walking around, don't use 通行 — use 走 or 经过; 通行 implies official passage)

Origin & History

Compound of 通 (to pass through) + 行 (to go, walk). Together they mean to pass through or to be commonly practiced.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal