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Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 通过 AND 经过
The term 通过 (tōng guò) and 经过 (jīng guò) are both common phrases to express what experiences or times one went “through.”
The two words can sometimes be used interchangeably.
However, there are still a few differences between them.
HOW TO USE 经过
经过 as a verb
When 经过 (jīng guò) is used as a verb, it means “to pass by” or “to pass through.”
It’s for saying things like, “I passed through downtown” or “I passed by the shop.”
经过 as a preposition
As a preposition, “经过 (jīng guò)” means something like “through” (or “after going through“), and it puts focus on the process of that experience.
PATTERN
经过 + Event / Time ，……
HOW TO USE 通过
通过 as a verb
When “通过 (tōng guò)” is used as a verb, it indicates “to go through” a certain object, as in “to pass through some place from one side to another.”
As a verb, 通过 (tōng guò) can also mean “to pass or have reached a certain standard, or met a certain requirement.” It often applies to exams, as in passing the exam. For instance, you could say:
| I passed the HSK6 examination. | 我通过了HSK6的考试。 | wǒ tōngguò le HSK 6 de kǎoshì. |
通过 as a preposition
As a preposition, 通过 expresses using a specific method to achieve the desired outcome.
It emphasizes the manner or process of doing something and can be placed before or after the subject.
STRUCTURE #1
通过 + Agent / Method ，Subject ……
STRUCTURE #2
Subject + 通过+ Agent / Method ……
As you can tell from the examples, when used as a preposition, 通过 means “the attainment of a certain result through a certain way or manner.”
通过 vs 经过 SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES
In conclusion, both 通过 (tōng guò) and 经过 (jīng guò) can be used to mean the attainment of a specific goal as a result of the influence of someone or something.
- However, 通过(tōng guò) emphasizes the method or means (of achieving something);
- While 经过(jīng guò) emphasizes the process.
Besides, when used as a verb, 通过 (tōng guò) means “to pass through someplace from one end/side to another end/side,” while 经过 (jīng guò) means “to go by way of” without having to “pass through” someplace.
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FAQs
How to use 经过?
When 经过 (jīng guò) is used as a verb, it means “to pass by” or “to pass through.”
It’s for saying things like, “I passed through downtown” or “I passed by the shop.”
As a preposition, “经过 (jīng guò)” means something like “through” (or “after going through“), and it puts focus on the process of that experience. The sentence structure is:
经过 + Event / Time ，……
How to use 通过?
When “通过 (tōng guò)” is used as a verb, it indicates “to go through” a certain object, as in “to pass through some place from one side to another.”
As a preposition, 通过 expresses using a specific method to achieve the desired outcome.
It emphasizes the manner or process of doing something and can be placed before or after the subject. The structure is as follows:
通过 + Agent / Method ，Subject ……
OR
Subject + 通过+ Agent / Method ……
What differences between 通过 and 经过?
Both 通过 (tōng guò) and 经过 (jīng guò) can be used to mean the attainment of a specific goal as a result of the influence of someone or something.
However, 通过(tōng guò) emphasizes the method or means (of achieving something); while 经过(jīng guò) emphasizes the process.
Besides, when used as a verb, 通过 (tōng guò) means “to pass through someplace from one end/side to another end/side,” while 经过 (jīng guò) means “to go by way of” without having to “pass through” someplace.
Some sentence examples with 经过?
经过 as a verb:
我每天都经过这个车站。wǒ měi tiān dū jīng guò zhè gè chē zhàn | I pass by this station every day.
你经过我家门口的时候叫我一下 。nǐ jīng guò wǒ jiā mén kǒu de shí hòu jiào wǒ yī xià | Call me when you pass by my door.
经过 as a preposition:
经过这次失败，我获得了宝贵的经验。jīng guò zhè cì shī bài , wǒ huò dé le bǎo guì de jīng yàn | After this failure, I gained valuable experience.
经过两天的休息，我感到很有活力。jīng guò liǎng tiān de xiū xī , wǒ gǎn dào hěn yǒu huó lì | After two days of rest, I feel energized.
Some sentence examples with 通过?
通过 as a verb:
从我家到学校要通过两座桥。cóng wǒ jiā dào xué xiào yào tōng guò liǎng zuò qiáo | There are two bridges to pass from my house to school.
我们要通过一条小河才能到达目的地。wǒ men yào tōng guò yī tiáo xiǎo hé cái néng dào dá mù dì dì | We have to cross a small river to reach our destination.
通过 as a preposition:
我通过她的妈妈找到了她。wǒ tōng guò tā de mā mā zhǎo dào le tā | I found her through her mom.
我们可以通过阅读了解更多知识。wǒ men kě yǐ tōng guò yuè dú liǎo jiě gèng duō zhī shí | We can learn more by reading.
Where to learn more B1 Chinese grammar?
You can study more B1 Chinese grammar on our Chinese Grammar Bank.
Some examples of the lessons you’ll find there:
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