Japanese kanji 通: passing through and attending

The idea

通 has 10 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram. Read 通る（とおる） and 通う（かよう） as complete words: a character’s reading depends on the word.

Examples

• この道みちをバスが通とおります。Buses pass along this road.
• 公園こうえんを通とおって、駅えきへ行いきます。I go to the station through the park.
• 妹いもうとは小学校しょうがっこうに通かよっています。My younger sister attends elementary school.
• 毎週まいしゅう日本語にほんごの教室きょうしつに通かよっています。I attend a Japanese class every week.
• この電車でんしゃは普通ふつうです。This train is a local service.
• ここに糸いとを通とおしてください。Please pass the thread through here.

Watch out

通る is to pass through; 通う is to go somewhere regularly, such as a school. 通す means to pass something through; 普通 is often read ふつう. Compare the shape of 通 with 運.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 通る in hiragana.

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   とおる

   通る is read とおる. In context: Buses pass along this road.

2. Write the reading of 通う in hiragana.

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   かよう

   通う is read かよう. In context: My younger sister attends elementary school.

3. Complete the missing kanji: ＿る（とおる）［通／運］.

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   通

   通 completes 通る, read とおる. In context: Buses pass along this road.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 通 from memory, and read 通る and 通う aloud. Then check their readings and make a sentence.