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四通八达 (sì tōng-bā dá) — (idiom) well-connected in all directions; accessible from all sides

Definition

Describes a place (often a city, transport hub, or network) that is well-connected from all directions. 四面八方 is about movement coming FROM all directions; 大街小巷 describes coverage of every street.

idiom
well-connected in all directionsaccessible from all sides

Examples

  • 四通八达，。
    Zhè ge chéng shì de jiāo tōng sì tōng-bā dá, qù nǎ lǐ dōu hěn fāng biàn.
    This city's transportation is well-connected, so it's convenient to go anywhere.
  • 四通八达，。
    Xīn jiàn de jī chǎng sì tōng-bā dá, lián jiē le guó nèi wài duō gè chéng shì.
    The newly built airport is well-connected, linking many domestic and international cities.
  • 四通八达，。
    Zhè lǐ de wǎng luò sì tōng-bā dá, xìn hào fēi cháng hǎo.
    The internet here is well-connected, and the signal is very good.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

四通four directions are open
四sìfour directions通tōngopen
主谓Subject + predicate
八达eight roads reach
八bāeight roads达dáreach
主谓Subject + predicate

四 and 八 picture all directions, while 通 and 达 say roads are open and reach everywhere.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 四 was drawn as a nose breathing out. It later came to be used for the word four.

Open 四 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
大
大dà达dá
Same sound today

This form 达 pairs 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 大 as a sound component.

Open 达 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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