154
通
Pass Through, Commute
とお(る) (tooru), とお(す) (toosu), かよ(う) (kayou)
JLPT N4
Interesting Fact
Many Japanese students don't live near their school. Every morning, millions of them commute (通学・つうがく) by train, bicycle, or on foot, often wearing the same school uniform. 🚃 It's so common that schools even issue official commuter passes for public transportation. For many teenagers, their daily journey to school becomes just as memorable as the classes themselves, making 通 a true symbol of everyday Japanese life.
Memory Trick
“Every destination is reached by passing through many roads—that's 通.”
Readings
Onyomi: ツウ (tsuu), ツ (tsu)
Kunyomi: とお(る) (tooru), とお(す) (toosu), かよ(う) (kayou)
Example Words
通る
とおる (tooru)
To pass through
通学
つうがく (tsuugaku)
Commuting to school
交通
こうつう (koutsuu)
Traffic, transportation
通勤
つうきん (tsuukin)
Commuting to work
Example Sentence
毎日 電車で 通学します。
まいにち でんしゃで つうがくします。
mainichi densha de tsuugaku shimasu
I commute to school by train every day.