Expressing "through" with "tongguo"

The first meaning of 通过 (tōngguò) used as a verb is "to go through" a certain object, as in penetrating into and coming out of something. The second meaning is "to pass," which means someone goes through effort in order to reach acknowledgement or agreement.

Used as a Verb

Examples

• 从 我 家 到 那儿 要 通过 两 座 桥 。Cóng wǒ jiā dào nàr yào tōngguò liǎng zuò qiáo.To get here from my house, you have to cross two bridges.
• 往 前 走 ，通过 一 个 红 色 的 大 门 ，左拐 就 到 了 。Wǎng qián zǒu, tōngguò yī gè hóng sè de dà mén, zuǒ guǎi jiù dào le.Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left and you are there.
• 我 通过 了 这 次 考试 。Wǒ tōngguò le zhè cì kǎoshì.I passed this test.
• 纽约 大学 通过 了 我 的 申请 。Niǔyuē dàxué tōngguò le wǒ de shēnqǐng.New York University went through my application.
• 他 没 通过 那 家 公司 的 面试 。Tā méi tōngguò nà jiā gōngsī de miànshì.He didn't pass that company's interview.

Used as a Preposition

As a preposition, 通过 expresses using a certain method to achieve a desired outcome. It emphasizes the manner or method of doing something, and it can be placed before and after the subject.

Structure

通过 + Agent / Method ，Subj. ⋯⋯

or

通过 + [Verb Phrase] ，Subj. ⋯⋯

Examples

• 我们 是 通过 他 的 朋友 找到 他 的 。Wǒmen shì tōngguò tā de péngyou zhǎodào tā de.We found him via his friends.
• 通过 这 次 调查，我们 发现 很 多 员工 对 新 规定 都 不 满意 。Tōngguò zhè cì diàochá, wǒmen fāxiàn hěn duō yuángōng duì xīn dōu bù mǎnyì.Through this survey, we found many employees are not very satisfied with the new regulation.
• 通过 顾问 的 介绍 ，我们 大概 了解 了 你们 的 咨询 服务 。Tōngguò gùwèn de jièshào, wǒmen dàgài liǎojiě le nǐmen de zīxún fúwù.We've got a a general knowledge of your consulting service through the presentation by the the consultant.
• 通过 参加 课外 活动 ，学生们 能 学到 很 多 学校 里 学 不到 的 东西 。Tōngguò cānjiā kèwài huódòng, xuéshēng men néng xuédào hěn duō xuéxiào lǐ xué bu dào de dōngxi.Through attending this after school activities, students can learn a lot of things that they can't learn at school.
• 通过 参加 培训 ，我们 的 员工 都 越来越 专业 了 。Tōngguò cānjiā péixùn, wǒmen de yuángōng dōu yuèláiyuè zhuānyè le.Our employees are getting more and more professional through attending the training.

See Also

• Expressing "after" with "jingguo"
• Using "lai" to connect two verb phrases