通达 (tōng dá) — to thoroughly understand; to be well-versed (in a subject or principle); to be open/accessible; to lead to (of roads or paths)

Definition

Written/formal verb meaning 'to thoroughly understand' (a subject or principle) and, for roads, 'to lead to / be open to'. Carries a literate tone — in speech, plain 懂 is used for 'understand'.

verb
to thoroughly understandto be well-versed (in a subject or principle)to be open/accessibleto lead to (of roads or paths)

Examples

  • 通达。
    Tā duì gǔ diǎn wén xué fēi cháng tōng dá.
    He is very well-versed in classical literature.
  • 通达。
    Zhè tiáo lù tōng dá gè gè cūn zhuāng.
    This road leads to every village.
  • 通达。
    Zhǐ yǒu tōng dá shì lǐ de rén cái néng zuò chū míng zhì de jué dìng.
    Only a person who thoroughly understands the principles can make wise decisions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

通tōngpass through
达dáreach

通 (pass through) and 达 (reach) together suggest unobstructed understanding or passage.

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.

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 →

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