通

tōng

HSK 4

通 — tōng

1. to go through; to pass through; to penetrate

   这条路通城市中心。 zhètiáo lùtōng chéngshì zhōngxīn — This road goes through the city center.

2. to know well; to be familiar with

   他对这行业很通。 tā duì zhè hángyè hěn tōng — He knows this industry well.

3. (suffix) expert; well versed in (used after a field or subject)

   他是电脑通。 tā shì diànnǎo tōng — He is a computer expert.

4. to connect; to join up; to link

   把这两条管子通起来。 bǎ zhè liǎngtiáo guǎnzi tōng qǐlái — Connect these two pipes.

5. to communicate; to get a message through

   那个消息还没通到我们这里。 nàge xiāoxī hái méitōng dào wǒmen zhèlǐ — That news hasn't reached us yet.

6. open; unobstructed (e.g., a channel or passage)

   水管现在通了。 shuǐguǎn xiànzài tōngle — The pipe is now clear/open.

7. to clear (an obstruction); to unblock

   他把下水道通好了。 tā bǎ xiàshuǐdào tōnghǎo le — He cleared the drain.

8. classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls, etc. (一通信 / 一通电话)

   我收到一通电话。 wǒ shōudào yí tòngdiànhuà — I received a phone call.

通 — tòng

1. classifier for an activity taken in its entirety (a bout of, a stint of, a tirade of)

   他喝了一通酒，结果宿醉了。 tā hē le yítòng jiǔ jiéguǒ sùzuì le — He had a bout of drinking and ended up with a hangover.