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贯穿 (guàn chuān) — to run through (physically); to permeate, to be a connecting thread (abstractly)

Definition

Used for something (a river, theme, thread) that runs through and unifies a whole, physically or abstractly. Unlike 穿过 (pass through a space), 贯穿 implies the thing is present across the entire span.

verb
to run through (physically)to permeateto be a connecting thread (abstractly)

Examples

  • 贯穿。
    Zhè tiáo hé liú guàn chuān le zhěng gè chéng shì.
    This river runs through the entire city.
  • 贯穿。
    Lè guān de jīng shén guàn chuān le tā de yì shēng.
    An optimistic spirit permeated his whole life.
  • 贯穿。
    Zhè ge xiàn suǒ guàn chuān le zhěng bù diàn yǐng.
    This clue runs through the entire movie.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

贯guànthread through
穿chuānpierce

贯 (thread through) and 穿 (pierce) together describe running through from one end to another.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 貫; 贯 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 貫 originally showed two shells strung together; the simplified 贯 is a later abbreviation.

Open 贯 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

穿 puts 穴 (cave) and 牙 (tooth) together to show passing through or penetrating.

Open 穿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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