Difference between revisions of "Comparing "tongguo" and “jingguo""

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#REDIRECT[[Expressing "through" with "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 ==
 
 
 
=== Expressing "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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 从 我 家 走 到 这里 需要 <em>通过</em> 两 座 桥。<span class="trans">To get here from my house, I have to cross two bridges.</span>
 
* 你 往 前 走,<em>通过</em> 一 扇 红 色 的 门,然后 左 拐 就 看到 了。<span class="trans">Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it. </span>
 
* ,<em>通过</em> 一 扇 红 色 的 门,然后 左 拐 就 看到 了。<span class="trans">Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it. </span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Expressing "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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 纽约 大学 <em>通过</em> 了 我 的 申请 。 <span class="pinyin">Niǔyuē dàxué <em>tōngguò</em> le wǒ de shēnqǐng.</span> <span class="trans">New York University went through my application.</span>
 
* 我 <em>通过</em> 了 这 次 考试 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>tōngguò</em> le zhè cì kǎoshì.</span> <span class="trans">I went through this test.</span>
 
* 他 没 <em>通过</em> 那 家 公司 的 面试 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā méi <em>tōngguò</em> nà jiā gōngsī de miànshì.</span> <span class="trans">He didn't go through the interview by that company.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
通过 + Method,Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 通过 + Method + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* <em>通过</em> 研究,我们 发现 大豆 对 身体 很 有 好处。<span class="trans">Through our research, we've discovered that soybeans are good for the body.</span>
 
* 公司 <em>通过</em> 裁员 的 方法 解决 金融 危机 带来 的 问题。<span class="trans">The company lay-off method helped solve its finance problem.</span>
 
* 我们 <em>通过</em> 他 的 朋友 才 找到 了 他。<span class="trans">We found him via his friends.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 经过 as Verb ==
 
 
 
=== Structure 1 ===
 
 
 
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."
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 经过 + Place
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 每天 我 都 <em>经过</em> 这 个 小 商店。<span class="trans">I go past this little store every day.</span>
 
* 去 机场 的 时候 我们 会 <em>经过</em> 人民广场 吗?<span class="trans">When we go to the airport, do we pass the People's Square Station?</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Structure 2 ===
 
 
 
The second way that 经过 is used as a verb is that it means "to experience something" or "going through a time." It emphasizes the process of that experience. When expressing "to experience something," it often has a negative connotation, like 教训 (jiàoxun), 考验 (kǎoyàn), 锻炼 (duànliàn), 战争 (zhànzhēng), and 比赛 (bǐsài). If it is talking about "going through a time," it is usually talking about the past.
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
经过 + Event/Time,Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* <em>经过</em> 一 个 月 的 培训,我们 的 新 员工 已经 准备 好 了。<span class="trans">After going through a month of training, our staff has prepared well.</span>
 
* <em>经过</em> 详细 的 解释 我 才 明白 了 这 个 问题。<span class="trans">After going through a detailed explanation, I finally understood the problem.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 经过 as Noun ==
 
 
 
As a noun, 经过 refers to the process of something.
 
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Adj. + 经过
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 请 你 跟 我们 说 一下 当时 的 <em>经过</em>。<span class="trans">Please tell us a little about that process.</span>
 
* 事情 的 真实 <em>经过</em> 谁 都 不 知道。<span class="expl">Notice the use of [[Topic-comment sentences|the topic-comment structure]]</span> <span class="trans">No one knows the actual course of events.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Example of right and wrong usage ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<li class="x"> <em>经过</em> 他 的 女 朋友,我们 找到 了 他。</li>
 
<li class="o"> <em>通过</em> 他 的 女 朋友,我们 找到 了 他。</li>
 
<li class="x"> <em>经过</em> 上海,中国 看到 了 世界。</li>
 
<li class="o"> <em>通过</em> 上海,中国 看到 了 世界。</li>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Example Dialog ==
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* A: 我 第 一 次 坐 飞机 没 <em>通过</em> 安检。<span class="trans">The first time I flew, I didn't get through a security check.</span>
 
* B: 为什么?说说 <em>经过</em>。<span class="trans">Why not? Tell me what happened.</span>
 
* A: 我 带 了 一 大 瓶 牛奶。<span class="trans">I brought a big bottle of milk.</span>
 
* B: 牛奶 不 能 带。后来 呢?<span class="trans">You can't bring milk. And then?</span>
 
* A: 后来 <em>通过</em> 我 的 努力 把 牛奶 喝完 了。<span class="trans">Then I tried my hardest to drink it all.</span>
 
* B:那 为什么 还 没 <em>通过</em> 安检?<span class="trans">So, why didn't you go through the security check?</span>
 
* A: 我 <em>经过</em> 一 个 安检 人员 的 时候 说 了 句 脏话。<span class="trans">I swore as I passed a security guard.</span>
 
* B:你 这 是 找 麻烦。<span class="trans">You just look for trouble.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
 
 
=== Books ===
 
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (p.214) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
 
 
*[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (p. 1) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
 
 
*[[现代汉语虚词例释]] (p. 1)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004323J90/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →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)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B004WA6JSQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 → buy]
 
 
 
*[[卓越汉语-公司实战篇]] (p. 123) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
 
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|通过|B1|通过 vs 经过|<em>通过</em> 他 的 女 朋友,我们 找到 了 他。<em>经过</em> 一 个 月 的 培训,我们 的 新 员工 已经 准备 好 了。|grammar point|ASGXF329}}
 
{{Rel char|经过}}
 
{{Used for|Describing things}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing movement}}
 
{{Comparison|Verbs}}
 

Latest revision as of 15:15, 27 November 2018