通过

tōngguò

Meaning

通过 has three uses: 1. A preposition — “through”, “by means of”. 2. A verb — to pass through a place. 3. A verb — to pass an exam, interview or inspection; to be approved.

1. 通过 — “by means of”

通过 + Person / Thing / Method + Verb

任(Rèn)何(hé)成(chéng)功(gōng)都(dōu)要(yào)通(tōng)过(guò)努(nǔ)力(lì)才(cái)能(néng)得(dé)到(dào)。

Any success has to be won through effort.

通(Tōng)过(guò)学(xué)习(xí)，我(wǒ)提(tí)高(gāo)了(le)中(Zhōng)文(wén)水(shuǐ)平(píng)。

Through study I improved my Chinese.

我(Wǒ)们(men)通(tōng)过(guò)微(Wēi)信(xìn)联(lián)系(xì)。

We keep in touch via WeChat.

这(Zhè)个(ge)节(jié)目(mù)我(wǒ)一(yī)直(zhí)在(zài)看(kàn)，它(tā)介(jiè)绍(shào)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)生(shēng)活(huó)中(zhōng)的(de)小(xiǎo)知(zhī)识(shi)。

I've been watching this programme for a while — it covers a lot of small, useful facts about daily life.

很(Hěn)多(duō)以(yǐ)前(qián)我(wǒ)没(méi)有(yǒu)注(zhù)意(yì)到(dào)的(de)问(wèn)题(tí)，现(xiàn)在(zài)通(tōng)过(guò)它(tā)了(liǎo)解(jiě)了(le)不(bù)少(shǎo)。

A lot of things I'd never noticed before, I now understand much better through it.

2. 通过 — to pass through

这(Zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)只(zhǐ)能(néng)步(bù)行(xíng)通(tōng)过(guò)。

This street can only be crossed on foot.

火(Huǒ)车(chē)通(tōng)过(guò)了(le)隧(suì)道(dào)。

The train passed through the tunnel.

3. 通过 — to pass, to be approved

我(Wǒ)通(tōng)过(guò)那(nà)家(jiā)公(gōng)司(sī)的(de)面(miàn)试(shì)了(le)。

I passed the interview at that company.

经(Jīng)理(lǐ)对(duì)我(wǒ)印(yìn)象(xiàng)不(bù)错(cuò)，他(tā)要(yào)我(wǒ)明(míng)天(tiān)就(jiù)正(zhèng)式(shì)去(qù)上(shàng)班(bān)。

The manager formed a good impression of me — he asked me to start officially tomorrow.

他(Tā)通(tōng)过(guò)了(le)考(kǎo)试(shì)。

He passed the exam.

这(Zhè)个(ge)计(jì)划(huà)通(tōng)过(guò)了(le)。

The plan was approved.

Remember: One idea ties all three uses of 通过 together — “to get through”. 通过努力 → get there through hard work. 通过大门 → get through the gate. 通过考试 → get through the exam.