通关 (tōng guān) — to clear customs (for goods or luggage); (in a…

Definition

Literally 'pass through the gate,' used for clearing customs and, in 划拳 drinking games, for defeating every opponent at the table one by one.

verb

to clear customs (for goods or luggage)(in a finger-guessing drinking game) to take on and defeat all opponents at the table

通关。
Zhè pī huò wù yǐ jīng tōng guān le.
This batch of goods has already cleared customs.
通关。
Wǒ men zhèng zài bàn lǐ tōng guān shǒu xù.
We are going through the customs procedures.
通关。
Tā yí gè rén tōng guān le quán chǎng.
He single-handedly took on and beat everyone at the table.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

通 means to pass, and 关 refers to a customs barrier, so the word means to clear customs.

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.

辶甬通

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 關; 关 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

門門méndoor

Sound part声符shēngfú

𢇅

𢇅𢇅關guān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 关, the traditional form 關 shows 門 as a door and 𢇅 as two wooden sticks locking it, with ring-like marks on top.

Appears in