Comparing "tongguo" and “jingguo"

One of the trickier points of Chinese grammar is how to use 通过 (tōngguò) and 经过 (jīngguò) correctly. Though they have very similar meanings, they have somewhat different usages.

通过 as a Verb

"to Go through" with 通过

The first way that 通过 is used as a verb is that it means going through a certain object, as in penetrating into and coming out of something. In this case, it is similar to the word 穿过 (chuānguò).

Examples

• 从 我 家 走 到 这里 需要 通过 两 座 桥 。 Cóng wǒ jiā zǒu dào zhèlǐ xūyào tōngguò liǎng zuò qiáo. To get here from my house, I have to cross two bridges.
• 你 往 前 走 ， 通过 一 扇 红 色 的 门 ， 然后 左 拐 就 看到 了 。 Nǐ wǎng qián zǒu, tōngguò yī shān hóng sè de mén, ránhòu zuǒ guǎi jiù kàn dào le. Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it.
• 一直 走 ， 通过 一 扇 红 色 的 门 ， 然后 左 拐 就 看到 了 。 Yīzhí zǒu, tōngguò yī shān hóng sè de mén, ránhòu zuǒ guǎi jiù kàn dào le. Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it.

"to Pass through" with 通过

The second way that 通过 is used as a verb is that it means that something goes through effort in order to reach acknowledgement or agreement. This is similar to how we say a bill "passes through" the legislature, or how you can "meet someone through a friend."

Examples

• 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.
• 我 通过 了 这 次 考试 。 Wǒ tōngguò le zhè cì kǎoshì. I went through this test.
• 他 没 通过 那 家 公司 的 面试 。 Tā méi tōngguò nà jiā gōngsī de miànshì. He didn't go through the interview by that company.

通过 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 + Method，Subj. + Predicate

Examples

• 我们 通过 他 的 朋友 才 找到 了 他 。 Wǒmen tōngguò tā de péngyou cái zhǎodào le tā. We found him via his friends.
• 通过 研究 ，我们 发现 大豆 对 身体 很 有 好处 。 Tōngguò yánjiū, wǒmen fāxiàn dàdòu duì shēntǐ hěn yǒu hǎochù. Through our research, we've discovered that soybeans are good for the body.

经过 as Verb

The first way that 经过 is used as a verb is that it means "to pass by" or "to pass through." It is like saying "I went through downtown" or "I passed by the cemetery."

Examples

• 每天 我 都 经过 这 个 小 商店。I go past this little store every day.
• 去 机场 的 时候 我们 会 经过 人民广场 吗？When we go to the airport, do we pass the People's Square Station?

经过 as Preposition

Structure

The second way that 经过 is used to mean "to experience something" or "going through a time." It emphasizes the process of that experience. If it is talking about "going through a time," it is usually talking about the past.

经过 + Event / Time，Subj. + Predicate

Examples

• 经过 一 个 月 的 培训，我们 的 新 员工 已经 准备 好 了。After going through a month of training, our staff has prepared well.
• 经过 详细 的 解释 我 才 明白 了 这 个 问题。After going through a detailed explanation, I finally understood the problem.

经过 as Noun

As a noun, 经过 refers to the process of something.

Examples

• 请 你 跟 我们 说 一下 当时 的 经过。Please tell us a little about that process.
• 事情 的 真实 经过 谁 都 不 知道。Notice the use of the topic-comment structure No one knows the actual course of events.

Example of right and wrong usage

• 经过 他 的 女 朋友，我们 找到 了 他。
• 通过 他 的 女 朋友，我们 找到 了 他。
• 经过 上海，中国 看到 了 世界。
• 通过 上海，中国 看到 了 世界。

Example Dialog

• A: 我 第 一 次 坐 飞机 没 通过 安检 。 A: Wǒ dì yī cì zuò fēijī méi tōngguò ānjiǎn. The first time I flew, I didn't get through a security check.
• B: 为什么 ？ 说说 经过 。 B: Wèishénme? Shuōshuo jīngguò. Why not? Tell me what happened.
• A: 我 带 了 一 大 瓶 牛奶 。 A: Wǒ dài le yī dà píng niúnǎi. I brought a big bottle of milk.
• B: 牛奶 不 能 带 。 后来 呢 ？ B: Niúnǎi bù néng dài. Hòulái ne? You can't bring milk. And then?
• A: 后来 通过 我 的 努力 把 牛奶 喝完 了 。 A: Hòulái tōngguò wǒ de nǔlì bǎ niúnǎi hē wán le. Then I tried my hardest to drink it all.
• B: 那 为什么 还 没 通过 安检 ？ B: Nà wèishénme hái méi tōngguò ānjiǎn? So, why didn't you go through the security check?
• A: 我 经过 一 个 安检 人员 的 时候 说 了 句 脏话 。 A: Wǒ jīngguò yī gè ānjiǎn rényuán de shíhou shuō le jù zānghuà. I swore as I passed a security guard.
• B: 你 这 是 找 麻烦 。 B: Nǐ zhè shì zhǎo máfan. You just look for trouble.

Sources and further reading

Books

• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (p.214) →buy

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 1) →buy

• 现代汉语虚词例释 (p. 1)→buy

• Reference:Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)(p.230)→ buy

• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 123) →buy

HSK4