通
traffic · pass through · avenue · commute · counter for letters, notes, documents, etc.
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of advance and phonetic. Passing through a road.
Symbolism
Passage, traffic, notice. Represents movement and transmission.
Component Breakdown
surround from lower-left: walk + 甬
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
一方通行
いっぽうつうこう
one-way traffic; one-way (e.g. communication); one-sided
四通八達
しつうはったつ
traffic network extending in all directions
最後通牒
さいごつうちょう
ultimatum
音信不通
おんしんふつう
break in contact; not hearing from; having no communication with
融通無碍
ゆうずうむげ
free, unfettered and flexible; versatile; adaptable
一文不通
いちもんふつう
total illiteracy
Proverbs & Idioms
通らぬ道は道ならず
とおらぬみちはみちならず
An untraveled road is no road
A path unused loses its purpose
Poetry
住の江の 岸による波 よるさへや 夢の通ひ路 人めよくらむ
Waves draw to the shore at Suminoe. Must you too, even by night, avoid others' eyes on the path of dreams?
月天心貧しき町を通りけり
The moon at the top of the sky, passing over a poor quarter.
雀の子そこのけそこのけ御馬が通る
Little sparrow, out of the way, out of the way — the horse is coming through.
Anime & Manga
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 通 in its Japanese title.
通常攻撃が全体攻撃で二回攻撃のお母さんは好きですか？
Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?
A well-known work with 通 in its Japanese title.
とある科学の一方通行【アクセラレータ】
A Certain Scientific Accelerator
A well-known work with 通 in its Japanese title.
黒岩メダカに私の可愛いが通じない
Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms
A well-known work with 通 in its Japanese title.
アラフォー男の異世界通販生活
The Daily Life of a Middle-Aged Online Shopper in Another World
A well-known work with 通 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
大久保利通
Name contains 通
Ōkubo Toshimichi was a Japanese statesman and samurai of the Satsuma Domain.
Wikipedia藤原忠通
Name contains 通
Fujiwara no Tadamichi was the eldest son of the Japanese regent Fujiwara no Tadazane and a member of the politically powerful Fujiwara clan.
Wikipedia近衛基通
Name contains 通
Konoe Motomichi was a Kugyō from the late Heian period to the early Kamakura period.
Wikipedia平沢貞通
Name contains 通
Sadamichi Hirasawa was a Japanese tempera painter.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“pass through”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 通 mean in Japanese?
通 means traffic, pass through, avenue, commute, counter for letters, notes, documents, etc..
How do you read 通?
On'yomi: ツウ、ツ (TSUU, TSU). Kun'yomi: とお.る、とお.り、-とお.り、-どお.り、とお.す、とお.し、-どお.し、かよ.う (tooru, toori, toori, doori, toosu, tooshi, dooshi, kayou).
How many strokes does 通 have?
通 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 辶 (walk).
Is 通 a good kanji for a tattoo?
通 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means traffic, pass through, avenue, commute, counter for letters, notes, documents, etc.. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:pass through