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通信 (tōng xìn) — to communicate over a distance (by letter, phone, internet, etc.)

Definition

通信 emphasizes long-distance communication (by phone, letter, satellite, internet). 交流 is face-to-face exchange of ideas; 沟通 is mutual understanding in dialogue.

verb
to communicate over a distance (by letter, phone, internet, etc.)

Examples

  • 通信。
    Wǒ men měi tiān tōng guò shǒu jī tōng xìn.
    We communicate every day through mobile phones.
  • 通信。
    Xiàn zài hěn shǎo rén xiě xìn tōng xìn le.
    Now very few people communicate by writing letters.
  • 通信。
    Tā men yòng wèi xīng xì tǒng hù xiāng tōng xìn.
    They communicate with each other using a satellite system.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

通tōngcommunicate
信xìnletter/message

通 (communicate) and 信 (letter/message) combine to mean communicating by letter or other means.

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
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Phones & Telecom

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