通る vs 通す
JLPT N4 vocabulary · what is the difference?
通る is intransitive: someone or something passes along a place (公園の前を通る), a road runs somewhere (駅まで道が通っている), or you pass an exam (試験に通る). 通す is transitive: you let something or someone through (客を部屋に通す, 糸を針に通す).
When to use each
通る
とおる
Use 通る for going along or through a route (the route takes を), for a road or line that runs somewhere, and for getting through a test or screening — there the thing you pass takes に: 試験に通る, 面接に通る.
毎朝、公園の前を通って学校へ行きます。
まいあさ、こうえんのまえをとおってがっこうへいきます。
Every morning I go to school past the park.
兄は入学試験に通りました。
あにはにゅうがくしけんにとおりました。
My older brother passed the entrance exam.
通す
とおす
Use 通す when you make something pass through: showing a visitor in, threading a needle, letting air or light through, or cooking something through (火を通す). What you send through takes を.
お客さんを応接室に通してください。
おきゃくさんをおうせつしつにとおしてください。
Please show the guest into the reception room.
窓を開けて、風を通しましょう。
まどをあけて、かぜをとおしましょう。
Let's open the window and air the room out.
Sentences where only one works
この道はバスがよく通ります。
このみちはバスがよくとおります。
Buses often come along this road.
The buses do the passing themselves — 通る with が.
すみません、通してください。
すみません、とおしてください。
Excuse me, please let me through.
You are asking the other person to make way for you, so 通す. 通ってください would be telling them to go through.
糸が細くて、針になかなか通りません。
いとがほそくて、はりになかなかとおりません。
The thread is thin and won't go through the needle.
Describing the thread's own behaviour: 通る. Your act of threading it is 糸を針に通す.
肉によく火を通してください。
にくによくひをとおしてください。
Please cook the meat through thoroughly.
火を通す — you send heat through the meat, the normal way to say "cook through".
Common mistakes
試験を通しました。
試験に通りました。／試験に受かりました。
English "pass the exam" has an object, but Japanese uses 試験に通る. 試験を通す would mean letting an exam through, as in pushing a proposal past approval.
駅の前を通します。
駅の前を通ります。
If you are the one walking or driving past, it is 通る. 通す needs something else that you are sending through.
Frequently asked questions
この道は駅まで通っている — why 通る for a road that isn't moving?
通る also describes a route existing and running somewhere: 駅まで道が通っている, "a road runs as far as the station." The same idea covers lines and utilities: 電気が通っている, "there is electricity connected."
Is 試験に通る the same as 試験に合格する?
Same meaning. 合格する is the formal one you would see on a notice, 通る is the everyday spoken version, and 受かる sits in between and is very common in conversation.
What is 目を通す?
To look something over, to skim it. 資料に目を通しておいてください means "please have a look through the materials beforehand" — you send your eyes through it.