通读 (tōng dú) — to read through (a text) from start to finish; to have a thorough grasp (of a subject) through complete reading

Definition

通读 means reading a whole text end-to-end, usually as preparation or survey rather than for pleasure. Often pairs with 精读 ('read carefully/intensively') to describe a two-step study approach.

verb
to read through (a text) from start to finishto have a thorough grasp (of a subject) through complete reading

Examples

  • 通读。
    Tā yòng le sān tiān shí jiān tōng dú le zhè běn xiǎo shuō.
    He spent three days reading through this novel.
  • 通读，。
    Zhǐ yǒu tōng dú quán bù zī liào, cái néng zuò chū zhèng què pàn duàn.
    Only by reading through all the materials can you make a correct judgment.
  • 通读，。
    Tā duì zhōng guó lì shǐ tōng dú zhī hòu, yǒu le gèng shēn kè de lǐ jiě.
    After reading through Chinese history, he gained a deeper understanding.

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.

通tōngthrough
读dúread

通 through and 读 read mean read through thoroughly.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 讀; 读 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánto say
Sound part声符shēngfú
𧶠
𧶠𧶠讀dú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 讀 is made of 言 ('to say') and 𧶠 (giving the sound); this description is about 讀, not 读.

Open 读 →

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