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相通 (xiāng tōng) — to be connected (of spaces, passages); to communicate; to be in mutual understanding (of feelings, thoughts)

Definition

相通 describes things that connect or share a link — physical passages (rooms, subway lines) or shared understanding between people. It is not an action of communicating; for actively exchanging ideas, use 交流 or 沟通.

verb
to be connected (of spaces, passages)to communicateto be in mutual understanding (of feelings, thoughts)

Examples

  • 相通，。
    Zhè liǎng jiān wò shì shì xiāng tōng de, zhōng jiān yǒu yí dào mén.
    These two bedrooms are connected, with a door in between.
  • ，相通。
    Wǒ men suī rán yǔ yán bù tóng, dàn xīn shì xiāng tōng de.
    Although we speak different languages, our hearts are in tune.
  • 相通。
    Liǎng tiáo dì tiě xiàn zài shì zhōng xīn xiāng tōng.
    The two subway lines connect at the city center.

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.

相xiāngmutual
通tōngconnect/open

相 adds mutual connection, and 通 means open or linked, giving passages or feelings connected.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract ConceptsCommunication & Speech

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