Japanese Grammar: を通じて / を通して (Through / Throughout)

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Japanese Grammar: を通じて / を通して (Through / Throughout)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

‘Through,’ ‘via,’ or ‘throughout.’

🎯 Primary Function

To express the means/method of an action or the continuity of a state over time.

📋 Grammar Structure

Noun + を通じて / を通して
Not applicable (Used with Nouns)
Not applicable (Used with Nouns)
Not applicable

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Commonly used in business emails, news reports, and academic writing.

😊 Informal Situations

Used in daily conversation to explain how you met someone or learned something.

✍️ Written Language

Very common in formal documents and literature.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used frequently when discussing methods or experiences.

💡 Common Applications

Medium or Intermediary
Used when something is achieved using a person, organization, or tool as a medium.
Example: 知人を通じて連絡する (Contact someone through an acquaintance).
Continuous Duration
Used to indicate that a state or action continues for a whole period of time.
Example: 一年を通じて営業している (Open for business throughout the year).
📊
Frequency
High. It is very common in both professional and academic contexts.
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N3 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N3 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
友人を通じて、彼女と知り合いました。
Furigana: ゆうじんをつうじて、かのじょとしりあいました。
Romaji: Yuujin wo tsuujite, kanojo to shiriaimashita.
English: I met her through a friend.
Example #2
インターネットを通じて、世界中のニュースを知ることができる。
Furigana: インターネットをつうじて、せかいじゅうのニュースをしることができる。
Romaji: Intaanetto wo tsuujite, sekaijuu no nyuusu wo shiru koto ga dekiru.
English: You can learn about news from all over the world through the internet.
Example #3
この国は一年を通じて暖かい。
Furigana: このくにはいちねんをつうじてあたたかい。
Romaji: Kono kuni wa ichinen wo tsuujite atatakai.
English: It is warm throughout the year in this country.
Example #4
ボランティア活動を通して、多くのことを学んだ。
Furigana: ボランティアかつどうをとおして、おおくのことをまなんだ。
Romaji: Borantia katsudou wo tooshite, ooku no koto wo mananda.
English: I learned many things through volunteer activities.
Example #5
社長は秘書を通して、メッセージを伝えた。
Furigana: しゃちょうはひしょをとおして、メッセージをつたえた。
Romaji: Shachou wa hisho wo tooshite, messeeji wo tsutaeta.
English: The president conveyed the message through his secretary.
Example #6
私たちはスポーツを通して、友情を深めた。
Furigana: わたしたちはスポーツをとおして、ゆうじょうをふかめた。
Romaji: Watashitachi wa supootsu wo tooshite, yuujou wo fukameta.
English: We deepened our friendship through sports.
Example #7
この町は四季を通して、美しい景色が楽しめる。
Furigana: このまちはしきをとおして、うつくしいけしきがたのしめる。
Romaji: Kono machi wa shiki wo tooshite, utsukushii keshiki ga tanoshimeru.
English: In this town, you can enjoy beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons.
Example #8
テレビ番組を通じて、その問題が広まった。
Furigana: テレビばんぐみをつうじて、そのもんだいがひろまった。
Romaji: Terebi bangumi wo tsuujite, sono mondai ga hiromatta.
English: The issue became widely known through television programs.
Example #9
本を通して、異文化への理解を深める。
Furigana: ほんをとおして、いぶんかへのりかいをふかめる。
Romaji: Hon wo tooshite, ibunka e no rikai wo fukameru.
English: One can deepen their understanding of different cultures through books.
Example #10
彼女は一生を通じて、平和を訴え続けた。
Furigana: かのじょはいっしょうをつうじて、へいわをうったえつづけた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa isshou wo tsuujite, heiwa wo uttaetsuzuketa.
English: She continued to appeal for peace throughout her entire life.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

The Indirect Nature
When meaning ‘via,’ it implies the subject isn’t doing the action directly, but using a bridge.
Example: メディアを通じて情報を得る。
Time Continuity
When used with time, it emphasizes the entire duration without interruption.
Example: 一年を通じて。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 公園を通じて駅へ行く。
✅ 公園を通って駅へ行く (Pass through/by the park to go to the station).
‘を通じて’ is for mediums or time, not for physical movement through a space. Use ‘を通って’ for physical paths.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral to Formal. It is more formal than simply using the particle ‘で’.
Social Situations: Ideal for introducing how relationships or skills were developed.
Regional Variations: None.

🔍 Subtle Differences

を通じて vs. を通して (Means)
‘を通じて’ can sound more natural for passive or natural processes, while ‘を通して’ can imply a more active, intentional medium.
When to use: Interchangeable in most cases. Use ‘を通して’ when you want to emphasize the effort/process.
を通じて vs. で (Means)
‘で’ marks a simple tool (with a pen), while ‘を通じて’ marks a medium or intermediary (through a friend).
When to use: Use ‘を通じて’ for more complex channels like people, organizations, or media.

📝 Conjugation Notes

When modifying a noun, it becomes ‘を通じての’ or ‘を通じた/を通した’. Example: インターネットを通じての交流 (Exchange via the internet).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Ensure the ‘wo’ particle is pronounced clearly before the verb stem. ‘Tsuujite’ and ‘Tooshite’ are often interchangeable, but ‘Tooshite’ is slightly more active.

🧠 Memory Tips

Associate ‘Tsuu’ (通) with ‘traffic’ (tsuukou) or ‘communication’ (tsuushin). You are communicating or passing information through a channel.

Other Grammar

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