Readings: ツウ (Onyomi), とお.る, とお.す, かよ.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: To pass through, to go through, to commute, street, traffic, thoroughfare
The kanji 通 is composed of 辶 (しんにょう), the “path” radical, and 甬 (よう), which signifies “passing through” or “penetration.” Together, it represents the idea of moving along a path or going through something.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 通 has 10 strokes. It starts with the “shinnyou” radical (辶) which is written in three strokes: a dot, a horizontal stroke, and a long sweeping stroke. Following this, the right part of the kanji is drawn with a vertical line, several horizontal strokes, and finally the bottom enclosure.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 辵 (しんにょう) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ツウ (tsuu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- とお.る (tooru)
- とお.す (toosu)
- かよ.う (kayou)
Common Words Using 通
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 普通 | ふつう | ordinary, regular |
| 交通 | こうつう | traffic, transportation |
| 通過 | つうか | passage, transit |
| 通学 | つうがく | commuting to school |
| 通訳 | つうやく | interpretation (linguistic) |
| 通報 | つうほう | report, notification |
| 通知 | つうち | notice, notification |
| 流通 | りゅうつう | circulation, distribution |
| 共通 | きょうつう | common, shared |
| 開通 | かいつう | opening, inauguration (of a road, line) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 通る | とおる | to pass, to go through |
| 通り | とおり | street, avenue |
| 通す | とおす | to let pass, to allow through |
| 通う | かよう | to commute, to go to and from regularly |
| 人通り | ひとどおり | pedestrian traffic |
| 通り道 | とおりみち | passage, path |
| 風が通る | かぜがとおる | the wind blows through |
| 目が通る | めがとおる | to read through (quickly) |
| 通い慣れる | かよいなれる | to be accustomed to commuting |
| 遠回りして通る | とおまわりしてとおる | to pass by making a detour |
Example Sentences
Japanese: この道は車がよく通ります。
Kana: このみちはくるまがよくとおります。
Romaji: Kono michi wa kuruma ga yoku toorimasu.
English: Cars often pass through this road.
Japanese: 毎日、電車で学校に通っています。
Kana: まいにち、でんしゃでがっこうにかよっています。
Romaji: Mainichi, densha de gakkō ni kayotte imasu.
English: I commute to school by train every day.
Japanese: 駅前の通りはいつも賑やかです。
Kana: えきまえのとおりはいつもにぎやかです。
Romaji: Ekimae no tōri wa itsumo nigiyaka desu.
English: The street in front of the station is always lively.
Japanese: 彼は交通ルールをよく守ります。
Kana: かれはこうつうルールをよくまもります。
Romaji: Kare wa kōtsū rūru o yoku mamorimasu.
English: He observes traffic rules well.
Japanese: バスは１０分ごとに通ります。
Kana: バスはじゅっぷんごとにとおります。
Romaji: Basu wa juppun-goto ni toorimasu.
English: The bus passes every 10 minutes.
Japanese: ドアを開けて風を通しました。
Kana: ドアをあけてかぜをとおしました。
Romaji: Doa o akete kaze o tooshimashita.
English: I opened the door and let the wind pass through.
Japanese: このトンネルを通過すると、海が見えます。
Kana: このトンネルをつうかすると、うみがみえます。
Romaji: Kono tonneru o tsūka suru to, umi ga miemasu.
English: When you pass through this tunnel, you can see the sea.
Japanese: 彼の話は私には全く通じませんでした。
Kana: かれのはなしはわたしにはまったくつうじませんでした。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa watashi ni wa mattaku tsūjimemasen deshita.
English: His story made no sense to me at all.
Japanese: 郵便局はあの通りをまっすぐ行ったところにあります。
Kana: ゆうびんきょくはあのとおりをまっすぐいったところにあります。
Romaji: Yūbinkyoku wa ano tōri o massugu itta tokoro ni arimasu.
English: The post office is straight down that street.
Japanese: 今日は会社に一日中通訳がいました。
Kana: きょうはかいしゃにいちにちじゅうつうやくがいました。
Romaji: Kyō wa kaisha ni ichinichijū tsūyaku ga imashita.
English: There was an interpreter at the company all day today.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
