通过 meaning in English
to pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation)
Meaning of 通过
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to pass through; to get through
- to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation)
- to pass (a test)
- by means of; through; via
How to use 通过
As a verb, 通过 means to pass something, like an exam, a law, or a checkpoint. As a preposition, it means "by means of" or "through" and comes before the method. Example: 我通过朋友认识了她。(Wǒ tōngguò péngyou rènshi le tā.) I got to know her through a friend.
通 (tōng) means to go through without blockage, and 过 (guò) means to pass or cross. Put them together and you get 通过: you pass all the way through, whether it is a tunnel, a test, or a vote.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 通过 and 经过 (jīngguò). Use 通过 for passing a test or achieving something by a method, and use 经过 for physically passing by a place or going through an experience, as in 我经过学校 (I pass by the school).
通过 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.
通 tōng · to go through · 10 strokes
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- 3
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- 10
过 guò · to cross · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 通过.
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 过去 | guòqù | (in the) past; former; previous; to go over; to pass by |
| 通知 | tōngzhī | to notify; to inform |
| 经过 | jīngguò | to pass; to go through |
| 超过 | chāoguò | to surpass; to exceed |
| 难过 | nánguò | to feel sad; to feel unwell |
| 普通 | pǔtōng | common; ordinary |
| 见过 | jiànguo | |
| 走过 | zǒuguò | to walk past; to pass by |
| 交通 | jiāotōng | to be connected; traffic |
| 过年 | guònián | to celebrate the Chinese New Year |
Questions about 通过
What does 通过 mean?
通过 (tōngguò) means "to pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation)" and is used as a preposition and verb.
How do you write 通过?
通过 is made of 2 characters: 通 (10 strokes), 过 (6 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.
Is 通过 an HSK word?
Yes. 通过 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 通过 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 通过 is written 通過.
How do I say I passed an exam with 通过?
Put the exam right after the verb: 我通过了考试 (Wǒ tōngguò le kǎoshì), I passed the exam. You can also say 考试通过了 (kǎoshì tōngguò le), the exam was passed.
Can 通过 go at the start of a sentence?
Yes. When it means "by means of," it often opens the sentence: 通过学习，他进步了很多 (Tōngguò xuéxí, tā jìnbù le hěn duō), through studying, he improved a lot. This is common in writing and formal speech.