Readings: ツウ (Onyomi), とお.る, とお.す, かよ.う (Kunyomi)
Meaning: pass; go through; commute; traffic; street
Semantic-phonetic compound. The left part 辶 (しんにょう) means “motion” or “walk,” indicating movement. The right part 甬 (よう) is a phonetic component suggesting “passing through.”
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 通 has 10 strokes. The radical is 辶 (しんにょう). Pay attention to the correct stroke order, especially the “shinnyou” radical which is typically written last.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 辶 (しんにょう) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ツウ (tsū)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- とお.る (tō.ru)
- とお.す (tō.su)
- かよ.う (kayo.u)
Common Words Using 通
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 交通 | こうつう | traffic; transportation |
| 通訳 | つうやく | interpreter; interpretation |
| 通常 | つうじょう | normal; usual; ordinary |
| 通過 | つうか | passage; transit; passing through |
| 通学 | つうがく | commuting to school |
| 通勤 | つうきん | commuting to work |
| 通貨 | つうか | currency |
| 共通 | きょうつう | common; shared |
| 流通 | りゅうつう | circulation; distribution |
| 通話 | つうわ | telephone call |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 通る | とおる | to pass; to go through |
| 通す | とおす | to let pass; to put through; to allow to pass |
| 通う | かよう | to commute; to go to and from; to attend |
| 通り | とおり | street; road; way |
| 通り道 | とおりみち | path; passage |
| 通り雨 | とおりあめ | a passing shower |
| 通り抜け | とおりぬけ | passage; passing through (noun) |
| 通りかかる | とおりかかる | to happen to pass by |
| 見通し | みとおし | outlook; prospect; visibility |
| 風通し | かぜとおし | ventilation |
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 street.
Japanese: 駅まで毎日バスで通っています。
Kana: えきまでまいにちバスでかよっています。
Romaji: Eki made mainichi basu de kayotte imasu.
English: I commute to the station by bus every day.
Japanese: 風を通すために窓を開けてください。
Kana: かぜをとおすためにもんをあけてください。
Romaji: Kaze o toosu tame ni mado o akete kudasai.
English: Please open the window to let the wind through.
Japanese: ここは交通量が多いです。
Kana: ここわこうつうりょうがおおいです。
Romaji: Koko wa kōtsūryō ga ooi desu.
English: The traffic volume here is high.
Japanese: 彼は日本語の通訳をしています。
Kana: かれはにほんごのつうやくをしています。
Romaji: Kare wa nihongo no tsūyaku o shiteimasu.
English: He works as a Japanese interpreter.
Japanese: この電車は大阪を通過します。
Kana: このでんしゃはおおさかをつうかします。
Romaji: Kono densha wa Ōsaka o tsūka shimasu.
English: This train passes through Osaka.
Japanese: 私たちの意見は共通しています。
Kana: わたしたちのいけんはきょうつうしています。
Romaji: Watashitachi no iken wa kyōtsū shiteimasu.
English: Our opinions are common (shared).
Japanese: 彼女は図書館に毎日通います。
Kana: かのじょはとしょかんにまいにちかよいます。
Romaji: Kanojo wa toshokan ni mainichi kayoimasu.
English: She goes to the library every day.
Japanese: この通りは夜も明るい。
Kana: このとおりはよるもあかるい。
Romaji: Kono toori wa yoru mo akarui.
English: This street is bright even at night.
Japanese: 公園を通り抜けて駅へ行きました。
Kana: こうえんをとおりぬけてえきへいきました。
Romaji: Kōen o toorinukete eki e ikimashita.
English: I went to the station by passing through the park.
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