TongTong
Sign in

通用 (tōng yòng) — to be universally applicable; to be in common use; to be interchangeable (of two or more things)

Definition

通用 means 'universal / in common use' — used of a standard, language, or tool that works everywhere. Often functions as an attributive: 通用语言, 通用软件.

verb
to be universally applicableto be in common useto be interchangeable (of two or more things)

Examples

  • 通用。
    Zhè zhǒng xìn yòng kǎ zài hěn duō guó jiā tōng yòng.
    This credit card is accepted in many countries.
  • 通用。
    Yīng yǔ shì yì zhǒng tōng yòng yǔ yán.
    English is a universal language.
  • 通用。
    Zhè liǎng gè líng jiàn kě yǐ tōng yòng shǐ yòng.
    These two parts can be used interchangeably.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

通tōngcommon
用yònguse

通用 pairs 通 (common) and 用 (use), so something can be used widely or interchangeably.

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.

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 →

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

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.