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通顺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
通顺tōngshùnsmoothHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #50925, Very Hard
通顺tōngshùnclear and coherentHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #50925, Very Hard
tōngshùn(tong1shun4)tong shun T1
  1. 1smooth
  2. 2clear and coherent
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March 24, 2026

通顺(通順)tōngshùn(tong1shun4)

通顺 (tōngshùn) refers to something that is smooth, clear, and coherent, especially in terms of communication or writing. It is commonly used to describe text that flows well and is easy to understand, as well as speech that is articulate and fluid.

Strokes19Frequency#50925DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, effective communication is highly valued, and being '通顺' is seen as a reflection of one's education and thought process. Writing that is clear and smooth is often associated with professionalism and respect.

Memory tip

Imagine a river (通) flowing smoothly (顺) without any obstacles. Just like the river, when your writing or speech is '通顺', it flows easily and is pleasant to navigate.

Meanings of 通顺

tōngshùn(tong1shun4)
1smooth
2clear and coherent
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About 通顺

通顺Simplified
通順Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 通顺

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Podcast: 通顺

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AI study notes for 通顺

Quick Contrast

流畅 (liúchàng) is often used to describe smoothness in terms of performance or execution, while 通顺 (tōngshùn) specifically refers to clarity and coherence in communication.

Usage Notes

通顺 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in writing and speaking. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar terms like '清晰' (qīngxī), which means clear but does not imply smoothness. Remember to use it to describe the quality of communication, not just individual words.

HSK Study Tips

While 通顺 is not an HSK word, it can be connected to HSK vocabulary related to communication and language skills. Focus on using it in context with phrases like '写得通顺' (write smoothly) to reinforce its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 通顺 to describe physical objects or actions, such as saying '这条路通顺' (This road is smooth), which is incorrect. Correct usage would be in reference to language, like '他的表达不够通顺' (His expression is not smooth enough).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 通顺

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Component characters

通tōngto go through
HSK 410 strokes辶
View full entry
顺shùnto obey
HSK 59 strokes页
View full entry

How to say smooth in Chinese

“smooth” in Chinese is通顺tōngshùn

通顺 (tōngshùn) refers to something that is smooth, clear, and coherent, especially in terms of communication or writing. It is commonly used to describe text that flows well and is easy to understand, as well as speech that is articulate and fluid.

When to use 通顺

通顺 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in writing and speaking. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar terms like '清晰' (qīngxī), which means clear but does not imply smoothness. Remember to use it to describe the quality of communication, not just individual words.

通顺 or something close to it

流畅 (liúchàng) is often used to describe smoothness in terms of performance or execution, while 通顺 (tōngshùn) specifically refers to clarity and coherence in communication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 通顺 to describe physical objects or actions, such as saying '这条路通顺' (This road is smooth), which is incorrect. Correct usage would be in reference to language, like '他的表达不够通顺' (His expression is not smooth enough).

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通
顺

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Frequently asked questions about 通顺

You can say '这篇文章写得很通顺', which means 'This article is written very smoothly.'

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