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精通 (jīng tōng) — to master (a subject), to be proficient in

Definition

精通 means having a deep, expert-level mastery of a subject (e.g. 精通法律). It is stronger than 熟悉 ('familiar with') and more specialized/expert than 擅长 or 善于 ('good at').

verb
to master (a subject)to be proficient in

Examples

  • 精通。
    Tā jīng tōng liǎng zhǒng yǔ yán.
    He is proficient in two languages.
  • ，精通。
    Jīng guò duō nián xué xí, tā zhōng yú jīng tōng le zhè mén jì yì.
    After years of study, he finally mastered this craft.
  • 精通，。
    Yào jīng tōng shū fǎ, xū yào dà liàng liàn xí.
    To master calligraphy, you need a lot of practice.

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.

精jīngthoroughly
通tōngunderstand

精 (thoroughly) and 通 (understand) together suggest mastering a subject.

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →

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 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Thinking & Cognition

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