Meaning of 不通
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to be obstructed
- to be blocked up
- to be impassable
- to make no sense
- to be illogical
How to use 不通
不通 describes physical blockage like roads, pipes, or phone lines, and also writing or reasoning that makes no sense. It often follows the thing that is blocked, as in 路不通 or 电话打不通. Example: 这句话不通。(Zhè jù huà bùtōng.) This sentence does not make sense.
不 (bù) means not, and 通 (tōng) means to go through or connect. If something does not go through, the road is blocked, or the sentence does not get its meaning across.
Common mistake: Learners often write 不同 (bùtóng, different) when they mean 不通, since the sounds are close. Listen for the tone: 通 is first tone (tōng), while 同 is second tone (tóng).
不通 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
不 bù · no · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
通 tōng · to go through · 10 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Related words
Words that share a character with 不通.
| 对不起 | duìbuqǐ | I'm sorry; excuse me; I beg your pardon; to let (sb) down; to disappoint |
| 是不是 | shì bu shì | is or is not (used to form yes-no questions) |
| 不用 | bùyòng | need not |
| 不大 | bù dà | not very (clear, far away etc); not too; not often; infrequently |
| 不对 | bùduì | incorrect; wrong |
| 不客气 | bù kèqì | you're welcome; don't mention it |
| 不要 | bùyào | don't!; must not |
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 不错 | bùcuò | correct; right |
| 不行 | bùxíng | won't do; be out of the question |
| 不同 | bù tóng | different; distinct |
| 通过 | tōngguò | to pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation) |
Questions about 不通
What does 不通 mean?
不通 (bùtōng) means "to be obstructed; to be blocked up" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 不通?
不通 is made of 2 characters: 不 (4 strokes), 通 (10 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 不通 an HSK word?
Yes. 不通 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 不通 and 打不通?
打不通 (dǎ bu tōng) is a specific phrase meaning a phone call cannot get through. 不通 is the general word for blocked or illogical, so you can say 电话不通 or 电话打不通 with a similar meaning.
Can 不通 describe a person who is stubborn?
Yes, in fixed expressions. 想不通 (xiǎng bu tōng) means you cannot figure something out or accept it, and 一窍不通 (yí qiào bù tōng) means knowing nothing at all about a subject.