Definition
疏通 (shūtōng) means 'to unblock' or 'to get things flowing' — it applies to physical blockages (pipes, drains), interpersonal conflicts (mediating), and clarifying texts. Unlike 疏导 (shūdǎo), which focuses on guiding or channeling (traffic, emotions), 疏通 emphasizes removing an obstruction. For mediation, 调解 (tiáojiě) is the standard term for formal dispute resolution, while 疏通 is more about facilitating communication to resolve a blockage.
verb
to unblockto dredgeto clear (physical obstruction)to facilitateto mediateto get things flowing (relationships, communication)to explicateto clarify (a text)
Easily confused
- 流通liú tōnglook-alike(of air, water, money) to circulate
Examples
- 疏通。Gōngrén zhèngzài shū tōng xiàshuǐdào.The workers are unclogging the sewer.
- 疏通。Tā bāngmáng shū tōng tāmen zhī jiān de máodùn.He helped mediate the conflict between them.
- 疏通。Lǎoshī gěi wǒmen shū tōng le nà piān gǔwén.The teacher explicated that classical text to us.
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