历 lì — calendar; to experience; to undergo; to pass through; all; each
这是一段难忘的经历。Zhè shì yí duàn nán wàng de jīng lì.This is an unforgettable experience.
Common words: 历史 (lì shǐ)、经历 (jīng lì)、简历 (jiǎn lì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to pass through"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to pass through", including 历 (lì), 透 (tòu), 渡 (dù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to pass through" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 历 (lì), 透 (tòu), 渡 (dù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span lì, tòu, dù — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 历 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 历 lìcalendar; to experience; to undergo; to pass through; all; eachUseful words: 历史, 经历
- 透 tòuto penetrate; thorough; penetrating; to pass through; to pierceUseful words: 透明, 透露
- 渡 dùto cross; to pass through; to ferryUseful words: 过渡, 渡过
Common words for these 3 "to pass through" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 历 (lì) — so "to pass through" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
历史lì shǐhistory经历jīng lìto experience; to go through; experience (简历jiǎn lìcurriculum vitae (CV); résumé; biographical notes透明tòu míngtransparent; (fig.) transparent; open to scrutiny透露tòu lùto leak out; to divulge; to reveal透过tòu guòto pass through; to penetrate; by means of; via过渡guò dùto cross over (by ferry); transition; interim; caretaker (administration)渡过dù guòto cross over; to pass through渡头dù tóuferry crossing point
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 pass through".
透 tòu — to penetrate; thorough; penetrating; to pass through; to pierce
这场雨把我们全淋透了。Zhè chǎng yǔ bǎ wǒ men quán lín tòu le.This rain soaked us through.
Common words: 透明 (tòu míng)、透露 (tòu lù)、透过 (tòu guò)
渡 dù — to cross; to pass through; to ferry
古时候，人们靠小船渡过这条河。Gǔ shí hou, rén men kào xiǎo chuán dù guò zhè tiáo hé.In ancient times, people crossed this river by small boat.
Common words: 过渡 (guò dù)、渡过 (dù guò)、渡头 (dù tóu)
All 3 characters
Open 历、透、渡 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.