通
通·pass through, commute
- On-yomi
- ツウ
- Kun-yomi
- とお(る)かよ(う)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 通う | かよう | to commute, to attend regularly |
| 通る | とおる | to pass through |
| 交通 | こうつう | traffic, transport |
| 普通 | ふつう | ordinary, local (train) |
Example sentences
妹は駅前の学校に通っています。
いもうとはえきまえのがっこうにかよっています。
My little sister attends the school in front of the station.
この道は車がよく通ります。
このみちはくるまがよくとおります。
A lot of cars pass along this road.
普通の電車で三十分かかります。
ふつうのでんしゃでさんじゅっぷんかかります。
It takes thirty minutes on the local train.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Mixing 通る(とおる, to pass by once) with 通う(かよう, to go back and forth regularly).
- Reading 普通 as *ふつうう or *ふどおり — it is ふつう.
Memory aid
Picture it
The road radical 辶 carrying a shape that runs straight through — a path you pass along again and again.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 普通ふつうordinary; local (train)
- 交通こうつうtraffic, transportation
- 通るとおるto pass through
- 通うかようto commute, attend
- 通りとおりstreet, avenue
- 通すとおすto let through
- 通学つうがくcommuting to school
- 通院つういんgoing to hospital regularly
- 交通事故こうつうじこtraffic accident
- 通行つうこうpassage, traffic
- 通信つうしんcommunication
- 通過するつうかするto pass through, to get past
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5
What does the kanji 通 mean?