N3 Methods, Scope, and Relation

~を通とおして/通つうじて① (Method): meaning, usage and examples

~を通とおして/通つうじて① (Method) means: through... / via...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれとは、インターネットを通つうじて知しり合あった。

   I met him through the internet.

2. 友人ゆうじんを通とおして、彼女かのじょと連絡れんらくが取とれた。

   I was able to contact her through a friend.

3. 山田やまださんを通とおして、新あたらしい仕事しごとの話はなしが来きました。

   A new job offer came to me through Ms. Yamada.

4. ボランティア活動かつどうを通つうじて、地域ちいきの人ひとと仲なかよくなりました。

   I became friends with people in the community through volunteer work.

When to use it

Means "through" or "via": the person, medium, or experience that something passes through to reach a result. Use it for people you met through a friend, information you got through the news, or skills you gained through an experience. It points to a channel or go-between rather than a tool you hold in your hand.

Nuance

Both are slightly formal. を通つうじて sounds a little more written and is common with media and networks; を通とおして often suggests personal effort or experience. Do not use it with simple tools: はしで食たべる, not はしを通とおして食たべる.

Compare

The same form also means "throughout a period": 一年いちねんを通とおして暖あたたかい (warm all year round). That is the separate Period point. Compare によって: 話はなし合あいによって解決かいけつする is the method that brings a result, while 友ともだちを通とおして知しり合あう is the go-between. で is just the tool: メールで送おくる.

Tip: Picture something passing through a tube: a friend, the internet, or an experience is the tube that connects you to the result.