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 ==
 
 
 
=== "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="pinyin">Cóng wǒ jiā zǒu dào zhèlǐ xūyào <em>tōngguò</em> liǎng zuò qiáo. </span> <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="pinyin">Nǐ wǎng qián zǒu, <em>tōngguò</em> yī shān hóng sè de mén, ránhòu zuǒ guǎi jiù kàn dào le.</span> <span class="trans">Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it.</span>
 
* 一直 走 , <em>通过</em> 一 扇 红 色 的 门 , 然后 左 拐 就 看到 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Yīzhí zǒu, <em>tōngguò</em> yī shān hóng sè de mén, ránhòu zuǒ guǎi jiù kàn dào le.</span> <span class="trans">Go straight ahead, go through a red door, turn left, and you'll see it.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== "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>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 我们 <em>通过</em> 他 的 朋友 才 找到 了 他 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em> tōngguò</em> tā de péngyou cái zhǎodào le tā.</span> <span class="trans">We found him via his friends.</span>
 
* <em>通过</em> 研究 ,我们 发现 大豆 对 身体 很 有 好处 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Tōngguò</em> yánjiū, wǒmen fāxiàn dàdòu duì shēntǐ hěn yǒu hǎochù.</span> <span class="trans">Through our research, we've discovered that soybeans are good for the body.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 每天 我 都 会 <em>经过</em> 这个 小 商店 。 <span class="pinyin">Měi tiān wǒ dōu huì <em>jīngguò</em> zhège xiǎo shāngdiàn.</span> <span class="trans">I go past this little store every day.</span>
 
* 她 每次 <em>经过</em> 这个 咖啡店 都 会 想到 他 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā měicì <em>jīngguò</em> zhège kāfēidiàn dōu huì xiǎngdào tā.</span> <span class="trans">Every time she walks past this cafe, she thinks about him.</span>
 
* 我 走路 上班 的 时候 会 <em>经过</em> 人民 广场 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zǒulù shàngbān de shíhou huì <em>jīngguò</em> Rénmín Guǎngchǎng.</span> <span class="trans">When I walk to work, I pass the People's Square.</span>
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 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.
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
经过 + Event / Time,Subj. + Predicate
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* <em>经过</em> 自己 的 努力 , 她 考上 了 北京 大学 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Jīngguò</em> zìjǐ de nǔlì, tā kǎoshàng le Běijīng dàxué.</span> <span class="trans">Through her own hard work, she got admitted into Peking University. </span>
 
* <em>经过</em> 这 几 年 的 发展 , 我 的 老家 发生 了 很 大 变化 。 <span class="pinyin"><em> jīngguò</em> zhè jǐ nián de fāzhǎn, wǒ de lǎojiā fāshēng le hěn dà biànhuà.</span> <span class="trans">After the last few years of development, my hometown has changed a lot.</span>
 
* <em>经过</em> 一 个 月 的 培训 , 我们 的 新 员工 已经 准备 好 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em> Jīngguò</em> yī gè yuè de péixùn, wǒmen de xīn yuángōng yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo le.</span> <span class="trans">After going through a month of training, our staff has prepared well.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
== 经过 as Noun ==
 
 
 
As a noun, 经过 refers to the process of something.
 
 
 
=== 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="pinyin">A: Wǒ dì yī cì zuò fēijī méi <em> tōngguò</em> ānjiǎn.</span> <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="pinyin">B: Wèishénme? Shuōshuo <em> jīngguò</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Why not? Tell me what happened.</span>
 
* A: 我 带 了 一 大 瓶 牛奶 。 <span class="pinyin">A: Wǒ dài le yī dà píng niúnǎi.</span> <span class="trans">I brought a big bottle of milk.</span>
 
* B: 牛奶 不 能 带 。 后来 呢 ? <span class="pinyin">B: Niúnǎi bù néng dài. Hòulái ne?</span> <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="pinyin">A: Hòulái <em> tōngguò</em> wǒ de nǔlì bǎ niúnǎi hē wán le.</span> <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="pinyin">B: Nà wèishénme hái méi <em> tōngguò</em> ānjiǎn?</span> <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="pinyin">A: Wǒ <em> jīngguò</em> yī gè ānjiǎn rényuán de shíhou shuō le jù zānghuà.</span> <span class="trans">I swore as I passed a security guard.</span>
 
* B: 你 这 是 找 麻烦 。 <span class="pinyin">B: Nǐ zhè shì zhǎo máfan.</span> <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