不通 (bù tōng) — (road, pipe) be obstructed, blocked; (phone, internet) unable to get through; (writing, reasoning) not make sense, illogical
Definition
Literally 'not pass through': it describes a channel being blocked (road, phone, writing) so nothing gets through — physical, communicative, or logical blockage. The 通/不通 pair captures both senses in one verb.
verb
(road, pipe) be obstructedblocked(phone, internet) unable to get through(writing, reasoning) not make senseillogical
Examples
- 不通，。Qián miàn de lù bù tōng, wǒ men zhǐ néng rào dào zǒu.The road ahead is blocked; we have to take a detour.
- 不通。Wǒ dǎ le hǎo jǐ cì diàn huà dōu bù tōng.I called several times but couldn't get through.
- 不通，。Zhè duàn huà luó ji bù tōng, dú qǐ lái hěn biè niu.This paragraph is illogical and reads awkwardly.
Appears in
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