を通じて

§ What does を通じて mean and when do people use it?

The Japanese particle を通じて (wo tsūjite) is a really useful expression that you'll encounter a lot in both spoken and written Japanese. It generally means 'through', 'via', or 'throughout' something. Think of it as indicating a medium, a channel, a process, or a duration during which something happens or is achieved. It’s a versatile phrase that helps describe how actions are carried out or how information is transmitted.

Let's break down its core meaning: it highlights the 'path' or 'method' by which an action or event takes place. This could be a physical path, a metaphorical path like a channel of communication, or even a period of time. It emphasizes the intermediary aspect. So, if you say you learned something を通じて a friend, it means your friend was the channel through which you acquired that knowledge. If you say you worked on a project を通じて the night, it means you continued working for the entire duration of the night.

One of the most common uses of を通じて is to talk about communication or information transfer. It's often used with words like 'internet', 'media', 'friends', 'meetings', or 'experience'.

Another key usage is to indicate a period of time, meaning 'throughout' or 'for the entire duration of'. When used this way, it often implies a continuous action or state during that specified period.

You might also see を通じて used to describe gaining experience or understanding through a particular activity or process.

Let's look at some more examples to solidify your understanding. Pay attention to the kind of nouns that precede を通じて in different contexts.

Context: Communication/Medium

• ニュースをテレビを通じて知った。 (I learned the news through TV.)
• 私たちはSNSを通じて連絡を取り合っている。 (We keep in touch via social media.)
• 彼は通訳を通じて彼らと話した。 (He spoke with them through an interpreter.)

Context: Duration/Period

• 夏休みを通じて旅行した。 (I traveled throughout the summer vacation.)
• 一年を通じて花が咲いている。 (Flowers are blooming throughout the year.)
• 夜を通じて雨が降っていた。 (It was raining throughout the night.)

Context: Process/Experience

• 研究を通じて新しい発見があった。 (Through research, there was a new discovery.)
• その活動を通じて、私たちは友情を深めた。 (Through that activity, we deepened our friendship.)

Understanding these various contexts will help you use を通じて naturally and correctly. It's a fundamental part of expressing how things happen in Japanese, so practice incorporating it into your own sentences.

§ Understanding 「を通じて」

The Japanese particle 「を通じて」 (wo tsuujite) is super useful for expressing 'through', 'via', or 'throughout'. It's commonly used to indicate a medium, a method, or a period of time. Think of it as explaining *how* something happened, *by what means* it happened, or *for how long* it continued.

Let's break down its usage. The particle 「を」 is actually the direct object particle, but in this construction, it often links to a noun that acts as the 'medium' or 'path'. 「通じて」 comes from the verb 「通じる」 (tsuujiru), meaning 'to go through', 'to be understood', or 'to be communicated'. When you put them together, you get this versatile phrase.

DEFINITION

Through; via; throughout (a medium or period).

§ Grammar and Structure

「を通じて」 typically follows a noun. The general pattern is:

• Noun + を通じて + Verb/Phrase

The noun before 「を通じて」 will be the medium, channel, or duration. It's pretty straightforward, but the nuances come with the context.

§ Examples for Different Meanings

§ Meaning 1: 'Through' or 'Via' (a medium/channel)

This is one of the most common uses. It's like saying 'by means of' or 'using' something to achieve an outcome.

§ Meaning 2: 'Throughout' (a period of time)

When used with a time-related noun, 「を通じて」 means 'throughout' that entire period. It emphasizes the continuity of something over that duration.

§ Common Nouns Used with 「を通じて」

Here are some nouns you'll frequently see paired with 「を通じて」:

• メディア (media): media
• インターネット (intaanetto): internet
• 友人 (yuujin): friend
• 経験 (keiken): experience
• 努力 (doryoku): effort
• 一年 (ichinen): one year
• 生涯 (shougai): lifetime
• 教育 (kyouiku): education

§ Key Takeaways

To sum it up, 「を通じて」 is your go-to phrase for:

• Indicating the channel or means by which something happens (e.g., "through the internet").
• Expressing that something occurs continuously over a specific duration (e.g., "throughout the year").

Practice using it in different contexts, and you'll find it incredibly useful for sounding more natural in Japanese. Keep an eye out for it in native materials!

§ を通じて vs. を通して (tōshite)

Many learners get confused between を通じて and を通して. While often interchangeable, there's a subtle difference. を通して generally implies a more direct or physical passing through, or a more direct means to an end. を通じて often suggests a less direct, more abstract 'through' – think of it as 'via' or 'by means of'.

Here, を通して is more natural because it's a physical act of passing through a tunnel. You can't really use を通じて here.

In this case, を通じて is perfect because 'internet' is a medium, not something you physically pass through. You are using it as a means to an end.

§ For duration: specifying the entire period

When using を通じて to express 'throughout' a period, make sure you are talking about the *entirety* of that period. It emphasizes consistency or a continuous state over that duration.

This sentence means the climate is consistently warm for the entire year. If you only mean 'at some point during the year' or 'for a part of the year', を通じて is not the right choice. For those situations, you might use expressions like ～の間に (no aida ni) or simply specify the period.

§ Incorrect usage with specific points in time

You cannot use を通じて with specific points in time or single events. It describes a continuous medium or an extended duration.

• Incorrect: 会議を通じて言いました。 (Kaigi o tsūjite iimashita.)
  Intended: I said it during the meeting.

Here, 'meeting' is an event, not a medium or a duration you pass through in the sense を通じて implies. You would use で (de) or の間に (no aida ni) in such a case.

§ Forgetting the particle を (o)

It's common for learners to forget the preceding particle を. を通じて always follows a noun and requires を before it.

• Incorrect: 電話を通じて連絡しました。 (Denwa tsūjite renraku shimashita.)

Always remember that を is part of the structure when you use を通じて.

DEFINITION

を通じて (tsūjite): Through; via; throughout (a medium or period). Emphasizes the medium or the continuous nature over a period.

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

The Japanese particle を通じて (wo tsuujite) means "through," "via," or "throughout." It's used to show the means, medium, or duration of something. While it might seem straightforward, Japanese has several ways to express similar ideas. Let's look at how を通じて differs from some common alternatives.

§ を通じて vs. で (de)

Both を通じて and で can indicate the means or method of an action. However, を通じて emphasizes a process or a medium that enables communication or a connection. で is more general and can indicate a tool, material, or location.

DEFINITION

Use を通じて for things like communication channels, relationships, or periods of time.

DEFINITION

Use で for more direct means, tools, or places.

§ を通じて vs. を経て (wo经て - wo hete)

を通じて and を経て both convey the idea of "through" or "via." However, を経て has a stronger nuance of passing through a specific point, stage, or process to reach a certain outcome. It often implies a progression or a series of steps.

DEFINITION

Use を通じて for general mediums, channels, or a duration.

DEFINITION

Use を経て when there's a clear process, experience, or stage involved.

§ を通じて vs. を用いて (wo mochiite)

を用いて means "using" or "by means of," similar to で, but it often implies a more formal or deliberate use of a tool, method, or resource. を通じて, on the other hand, is about the medium or channel something passes through.

DEFINITION

Use を通じて for indirect connections or processes.

DEFINITION

Use を用いて when actively using a tool or method.

§ Key Takeaways for を通じて

• を通じて is excellent for showing the medium of communication (e.g., internet, telephone, person).
• It's also used for showing a continuous period "throughout" which something happens.
• It implies a connection or a channel through which something is achieved or experienced.
• When choosing between を通じて, で, を経て, and を用いて, consider the nuance: is it a general means, a process with stages, an active tool use, or a mediating channel/duration?