通 tōng — go through; know well; to connect; to communicate; open
这个电话打不通。Zhè ge diàn huà dǎ bu tōng.This phone call cannot get through.
Common words: 通过 (tōng guò)、通知 (tōng zhī)、普通 (pǔ tōng)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to connect"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to connect", including 通 (tōng), 接 (jiē), 串 (chuàn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to connect" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 通 (tōng), 接 (jiē), 串 (chuàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span tōng, jiē, chuàn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 通 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 通 tōnggo through; know well; to connect; to communicate; openUseful words: 通过, 通知
- 接 jiēto extend; to connect; to receive; to joinUseful words: 接受, 直接
- 串 chuànto string together; to mix up; to conspire; to connect; (a measure word); stringUseful words: 一连串, 串门
Common words for these 3 "to connect" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 通 (tōng) — so "to connect" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
通过tōng guòto pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation)通知tōng zhīto notify; to inform; notice; notification普通pǔ tōngcommon; ordinary; general; average接受jiē shòuto accept (a suggestion, punishment, bribe etc); to acquiesce直接zhí jiēdirect; immediate; straightforward接着jiē zheto catch and hold on; to continue; to go on to do sth; to follow一连串yī lián chuàna succession of; a series of串门chuàn ménto call on sb; to drop in; to visit sb's home串行chuàn hángto miss a line; to confuse two lines
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 3 ways to say "to connect".
接 jiē — to extend; to connect; to receive; to join
我去车站接朋友。Wǒ qù chē zhàn jiē péng you.I went to the station to pick up a friend.
Common words: 接受 (jiē shòu)、直接 (zhí jiē)、接着 (jiē zhe)
串 chuàn — to string together; to mix up; to conspire; to connect; (a measure word); string
他买了一串糖葫芦给妹妹吃。Tā mǎi le yí chuàn táng hú lú gěi mèi mei chī.He bought a string of candied haws for his sister.
Common words: 一连串 (yī lián chuàn)、串门 (chuàn mén)、串行 (chuàn háng)
All 3 characters
Open 通、接、串 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.