Chinese Grammar: 经过 vs 通过

经过 and 通过 . Perhaps you’ve noticed these two words in your learning, and you’ve started wondering: hang on, this is confusing. These two share a common character, and they both mean the same thing, ‘to go through”.

What gives? Surely, 经过 and 通过 don’t quite mean the same, or there wouldn’t be two words.

Are they synonyms? Can they be interchangeably used? Well, you’re right to wonder, because 经过 and 通过 may have similar meanings but they have different uses and in most cases, are not interchangeable. So, once you know these differences, there’ll be no mistaking when to use which in Mandarin Chinese. Let’s go explore the differences between the two!

The differences between 经过 and 通过

经过 and 通过 both have literal and figurative meanings. Their translation might be “to go through”, but depending on whether they are verbs, nouns or prepositions, there are nuances to each. Let’s start with 经过, which can either be a verb or a noun.

As a verb, 经过 has two meanings, one literal; one figurative.

经过 as a verb: literal meaning

Literally, 经过 means to pass by*; to pass through. It is often used with places, such as a house, a door, and with Objects.

Structure

Subject + 经过 + Place

Examples

我经过这 条 路 去 上学。
I pass by this road to go to school.

我 每天 上班 都 要经过她 家 门口。
I have to go past her house every time I go to work.

38 路 公交车经过北海 公园 吗？
Does bus 38 go past Beihai Park?

经过 as a verb: Figurative meaning

经过’s figurative meaning is to have passed something or a process, to go through a time or to experience something. It is used to talk about completed actions, and puts emphasis on the process that brought on the change or the result. In fact, it's often not even translated as a verb, but rather as as the preposition “ after” or “following” (some event).

Structure

经过 + Event/Time，Subject + Verb+ Object

Examples

经过测试，水 没有 毒。
Following the test, [we know; the result is] the water is not toxic."

经过比赛，他 取得 了 胜利。
After going through the match, he obtained victory. (After taking part in the competition, he won).

经过大家 的 努力,他们 终于 成功 了。
After much effort from everyone, they finally succeeded.

经过十几 个 小时 的 飞行，绿皮书 终于 到达 了 上海。
After more than ten hours on the plane, Lupishu finally reached Shanghai.

Using 经过 as a noun

When it’s a noun, 经过 is used to talk about the process, a course or sequence of events.

Examples

事情 的经过是 这样 的。
The process of this matter went like this.

请 告诉 我 真实 的经过。
Please tell me about your real experience.

Using 经过 as a preposition

Lastly, as a preposition, 经过 can be also used to depict experiences or times one went "through." It is then used to connect an action that was taken, and its resulting consequence, and is often translated by "after" in English. As you saw in the part about 's figurative meaning, quite often, you'll see 经过 translated as a preposition, even though it's technically used as a verb in Chinese.

Examples

经过Yocha 的 解释 , 我 终于 明白 了 这个 语法 点 。
After going over Yocha's explanation, I finally understood that grammar point.

经过 一 天 的 讨论，大家 终于 同意 了 。
After discussing it for a day, everyone finally agreed.

通过 to go through

Similarly to 经过,通过 is either a verb, with both a literal and figurative meaning. Unlike 经过, it can't be a noun. 通过 can also be a preposition.

通过 as a verb: literal meaning

通过’s literal meaning as a verb is to go through (enter and come out of) a structure, such as a door, or a tunnel.

Structure

Subject + 通过 + O

Examples

火车 很 快 就通过了 隧道。
The train quickly went through the tunnel.

从 我 家 走 到 这里 需要通过两 座 桥。
To get there from my house, I have to go through two bridges.

通过 as a verb: figurative meaning

通过 figuratively expresses going through some effort to reach acknowledgment or an agreement. It is often translated as to pass; both in the meaning of passing , approving, ratifying a bill or a piece of legislation and in the meaning of passing (qualifying, being successful in) an exam, an interview.

Structure

Subject + 通过 + Object

Examples

董事会通过了 这个 计划。
The board approved the project.

选举 一致通过了。
The election was unanimous.

我 男朋友通过了 面试。
My boyfriend passed the interview.

通过他 的 朋友，我们 找到 了 他。
We found him thanks to his friends' help.

因为 努力，我通过了 考试。
I passed the exams because I worked hard.

Using 通过 as a preposition

In a situation where in order to achieve something, you needed to go through some effort, 通过 used as a preposition highlights how you made it through. It puts emphasis on the means (the method, or the manner) you used to achieve your desired outcome and is often translated as “through” (a method) or “via”. 通过 as a preposition can either be placed before or after the subject.

Structure

通过 + Method / Manner, Subject + Verb+ Object or Subject+ 通过+ Method / Manner + Verb + Object

Examples

通过讨论，这个 提议通过了。
Through the discussion, this proposal was passed.

他通过努力 取得 了 第一 名。
He got the first prize through his hard work.

通过 电脑，可以 了解 到 很多 信息。
You can obtain many items of information through a computer.

Compare the two

Do you see what distinguishes 通过 and 经过 now? In English, both might at first be translated the same, but now you know they are not interchangeable and the circumstances in which you use each are quite different! In fact, you can even use both in the same sentence, without it being confusing, like so:

经过一 天 的 讨论，大家通过了 这个 计划。
After talking it over for a day, everyone agreed on this plan.

Summary

• 经过 as a verb literally means “to pass by”; and figuratively means to “have passed something or a process”, to have experienced something and is often translated as “after”.
• 通过 as a verb literally means “to go through” a structure, and figuratively means “to pass”
• 经过 as a noun is used to talk about a process, a sequence of events.
• 经过 as a preposition means "through"; "after"; and connects a sequence, or action and its resulting outcome.
• 通过 cannot be a noun.
• 通过 as a preposition means “through”; “via”; and places emphasis on the means used to achieve the outcome

Once you’ve learned each word’s different meanings and uses, you’ll be good to go! The trickiest part is when 经过 and 通过 are each used as prepositions, as they share similar but not quite the same meanings but you’ll get used to each through exposure and practice!