畅通无阻 (chàng tōng wú zǔ) — unobstructed, unimpeded; to proceed smoothly without hindrance

Definition

An idiom meaning 'smooth and unhindered' — used for traffic, communication, or any process that flows without obstacles. It is a four-character written-style expression, more formal than the plain verb 顺利.

idiom
unobstructedunimpededto proceed smoothly without hindrance

Examples

  • ,畅通无阻。
    Gāo sù gōng lù xiū hǎo hòu, chē liàng chàng tōng wú zǔ.
    After the expressway was built, traffic flowed unimpeded.
  • 畅通无阻,。
    Shuāng fāng tán pàn chàng tōng wú zǔ, hěn kuài jiù dá chéng le xié yì.
    The negotiations between the two sides went without a hitch, and they soon reached an agreement.
  • ,畅通无阻。
    Wǎng luò shēng jí hòu, shù jù chuán shū chàng tōng wú zǔ.
    After the network upgrade, data transmission became unimpeded.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

畅通smooth passage
畅chàngsmooth通tōngpass through
联合Coordinate
无阻without obstruction
无wúwithout阻zǔobstruction
动宾Verb + object

畅通 and 无阻 reinforce one another to describe flowing freely with nothing blocking.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暢; 畅 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
Sound part声符shēngfú
昜
昜yáng暢chàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暢 combines 申 and 昜, with 昜 giving the sound; the simplified 畅 is a later shorthand.

Open 畅 →

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě阻zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

阻 is built from 阝 (written in full as 阜) on the left and 且 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 阻 →

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