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透 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
透
tòu
to penetrate
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
to pass through
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
thoroughly
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
completely
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
transparent
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
to appear
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
to show
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
透
tòu
to pierce, to penetrate, to pass through; thorough
HSK 6, v, 10 strokes, radical 辶, rank #1256, Hard
tòu(tou4)tou T4
1to penetrate
2to pass through
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March 24, 2026
透tòu(tou4)
The character 透 (tòu) primarily means 'to penetrate' or 'to pass through.' It is commonly used in contexts related to transparency or clarity, such as describing materials that allow light to pass through. Additionally, it can convey the idea of thoroughness or completeness in actions or understanding.
Strokes10Radical辶Frequency#1256DifficultyHard
Cultural note
The concept of transparency is significant in Chinese culture, often symbolizing honesty and clarity in communication. In traditional Chinese philosophy, being 'transparent' in one’s thoughts and actions is seen as a virtue.
Memory tip
Imagine a transparent window that allows you to see through it completely. The character 透 has a 'water' radical (氵) that suggests fluidity and clarity. Think of water passing through a clear glass, representing both transparency and thoroughness.
Meanings of 透
tòu(tou4)
1to penetrate
2to pass through
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 透
透Simplified
10Strokes
辶Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#1256Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 透
Podcast: 透
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AI study notes for 透
Quick Contrast
透 (tòu) vs 明 (míng) — use 透 to emphasize the idea of penetration or passing through, while 明 focuses on brightness or clarity without the implication of physical passage.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 透 (tòu) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more sophisticated in written language. Common collocations include 透视 (tòushì - to see through) and 透彻 (tòuchè - thorough).
HSK Study Tips
While 透 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, its components and meanings can be related to HSK Level 3 words like 明 (míng - bright) and 清 (qīng - clear). Focus on understanding the nuances of transparency and completeness to better grasp its use in various contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 透 (tòu) with 透过 (tòuguò), which means 'to pass through' in a more specific sense. For instance, saying '我透这扇窗户' (wǒ tòu zhè shàn chuānghù - I penetrate this window) is incorrect; the correct form would be '我透过这扇窗户' (wǒ tòuguò zhè shàn chuānghù).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 透
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Learning Lab
Knowing 透 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
透 = 辶 + 秀. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 透
IDS Structure⿺辶秀
透Full character
=
辶chuo4
enclosing
秀xiu4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 透?
How to say to penetrate in Chinese
“to penetrate” in Chinese is透tòu
The character 透 (tòu) primarily means 'to penetrate' or 'to pass through.' It is commonly used in contexts related to transparency or clarity, such as describing materials that allow light to pass through. Additionally, it can convey the idea of thoroughness or completeness in actions or understanding.
When to use 透
Be careful not to confuse 透 (tòu) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but may sound more sophisticated in written language. Common collocations include 透视 (tòushì - to see through) and 透彻 (tòuchè - thorough).
透 or something close to it
透 (tòu) vs 明 (míng) — use 透 to emphasize the idea of penetration or passing through, while 明 focuses on brightness or clarity without the implication of physical passage.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 透 (tòu) with 透过 (tòuguò), which means 'to pass through' in a more specific sense. For instance, saying '我透这扇窗户' (wǒ tòu zhè shàn chuānghù - I penetrate this window) is incorrect; the correct form would be '我透过这扇窗户' (wǒ tòuguò zhè shàn chuānghù).
Write 透
透
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Practice writing 透 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 透
透 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
Cataracts is a condition that affects the transparency of the lenses.
10
她身上透着一股冷漠，让他不寒而栗。
tā shēnshang tòu zhe yī gǔ lěngmò， ràng tā bù hán ér lì。
There was a coldness in her that chilled him.
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Word Family of 透
Words containing this character20
透tòuto penetrate
透露tòulùto leak out
透明tòumíngtransparent
透过tòuguòto pass through透過
渗透shèntòuto permeate滲透
透顶tòudǐngout-and-out透頂
看透kàntòuto understand thoroughly
透气tòuqìto ventilate透氣
穿透chuāntòuto penetrate
透视tòushìto see through透視
透支tòuzhī(bank) overdraft
路透社lùtòushèReuters News Agency
透明度tòumíngdùtransparency
透彻tòuchèpenetrating透徹
透析tòuxīdialysis (separation of crystalloids by osmosis)
通透tōngtòupenetrating
透漏tòulòuto divulge
浸透jìntòuto soak
熟透shútòuripened
湿透shītòudrenched濕透
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 透
What does 透露 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 透
Yes, 透 is commonly used in daily conversation, especially when discussing clarity or transparency. You'll often hear it in contexts like describing weather, light, or even emotions. It's a versatile character that can enhance your Chinese vocabulary significantly.
Some synonyms for 透 include 明显 (míngxiǎn), which means obvious, and 清晰 (qīngxī), meaning clear. These words can be used in similar contexts to convey transparency or clarity, depending on the situation.
透 (tòu) means to penetrate or to pass through. It can also convey the idea of being transparent or appearing completely. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as describing clarity or thoroughness.
透 can be used in sentences to express the idea of something passing through or being clear. For example, you could say '阳光透过窗户' (yángguāng tòuguò chuānghù), which means 'The sunlight passes through the window.' It can also be used in more abstract contexts, like '他的话透出诚意' (tā de huà tòu chū chéngyì), meaning 'His words show sincerity.'
You can use 透 in a sentence like '这件衣服透气' (zhè jiàn yīfú tòuqì) meaning 'This garment is breathable.'
Common phrases include 透彻 (tòuchè - thorough) and 透视 (tòushì - to see through).
Yes, 透 is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but it may appear more frequently in written texts.
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