A2 noun #200 most common 2 min read

~을/를 통해서

This phrase means using something as a bridge or method to get something done.

Practice it

Explanation at your level:

You use this when you want to say 'using' something. For example, if you learn Korean using a book, you say 'Book through learn.' It helps you explain how you do things.

At this level, you start using it to describe channels. 'I heard the news through the radio.' It is a very useful way to connect your actions to the tools you use every day.

You can now use it for abstract concepts. Instead of just physical tools, use it for 'through experience' or 'through hard work.' It makes your sentences sound much more mature and logical.

Use this to sound more professional. In business, you might say 'We will solve this through negotiation.' It shows you can handle complex ideas and explain the methods behind your decisions clearly.

In advanced contexts, it serves as a bridge for complex arguments. 'The author explores the theme through the protagonist's journey.' It is essential for academic writing where you must justify your methods or sources of information.

At the mastery level, you understand the nuance between 통해서 and other instrumental markers. You use it to weave together intricate narratives, showing deep control over the flow of information and logical progression in formal discourse.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Used for method or channel.
  • Attaches to nouns with 을/를.
  • More process-focused than ~으로.
  • Extremely versatile in daily and formal speech.

Hey there! Think of ~을/를 통해서 as your trusty bridge. In Korean, when you want to say you did something via a certain method, through a specific channel, or by means of a tool, this is the phrase you reach for.

It is incredibly versatile. Whether you are talking about learning through a book, communicating through a friend, or traveling through a city, this phrase connects your action to the tool you used. It's like saying, 'I got this done using this specific path.' It sounds professional yet natural in almost any conversation.

The phrase is built on the Hanja word 通 (통), which means 'to go through' or 'to connect'. When you combine this with 하다 (to do), you get 통하다, meaning 'to pass through'.

Over time, the adverbial form 통해서 evolved to describe the 'method' or 'channel' of an action. It is deeply rooted in the concept of flow. Just as water flows through a pipe, information or actions flow through a 'tong-ro' (pathway). It is a classic example of how Korean uses spatial metaphors to describe abstract processes.

You will use this phrase whenever you want to highlight the instrumentality of an object or person. It is very common in business contexts (e.g., 'contacting us through email') and academic writing.

Because it is slightly more formal than just using the particle (으)로, it adds a layer of precision to your speech. Use it when you want to emphasize the process rather than just the tool itself. It is a staple in news reports, formal emails, and structured presentations.

While not an idiom itself, it appears in many set phrases. 1. 대화를 통해서 (through dialogue) - used to resolve conflicts. 2. 경험을 통해서 (through experience) - learning by doing. 3. 매체를 통해서 (through the media) - getting news. 4. 소개를 통해서 (through an introduction) - meeting someone new. 5. 노력을 통해서 (through effort) - achieving success via hard work.

Grammatically, it attaches to the object marker 을 (if the word ends in a consonant) or 를 (if it ends in a vowel). It is a postpositional phrase, meaning it always follows the noun it modifies.

Pronunciation-wise, be careful with the double consonant 'ㅅ' in 통해서. Ensure you hold the 's' sound slightly longer to distinguish it from a single 'ㅅ'. It rhymes loosely with words ending in 'ae-seo' sounds like 그래서 (therefore).

Fun Fact

The character 通 is used across many East Asian languages to mean 'to pass'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tʰoŋ.ɦɛ.sʌ/

Crisp 't' and 'h' sounds.

US /tʰoŋ.ɦɛ.sʌ/

Clear aspiration on the 't'.

Common Errors

  • Softening the 't'
  • Skipping the 'h' sound
  • Merging with previous word

Rhymes With

그래서 애써 대해서 위해서 말해서

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to read

Writing 3/5

Need to watch particles

Speaking 2/5

Very common

Listening 2/5

Clear sounds

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

을/를 하다 것

Learn Next

거쳐서 통하여 매개로

Advanced

통용되다 통과하다

Grammar to Know

Particle usage

책을

Verb conjugation

통해서

Postpositional phrases

통해서

Examples by Level

1

책을 통해서 배웠어요.

Book-through learned.

Noun + 을 + 통해서

1

친구를 통해서 알게 되었어요.

2

인터넷을 통해서 주문해요.

3

뉴스를 통해서 들었어요.

4

편지를 통해서 소식을 전해요.

5

영화를 통해서 공부해요.

6

지도를 통해서 길을 찾아요.

7

라디오를 통해서 음악을 들어요.

8

이메일을 통해서 연락하세요.

1

경험을 통해서 배웠습니다.

2

대화를 통해서 해결합시다.

3

노력을 통해서 성공했어요.

4

소개를 통해서 취업했어요.

5

교육을 통해서 성장해요.

6

관찰을 통해서 발견했어요.

7

조사를 통해서 알게 됐죠.

8

회의를 통해서 결정합니다.

1

협상을 통해서 합의에 도달했습니다.

2

전문가를 통해서 자문을 구했어요.

3

법적 절차를 통해서 해결해야 합니다.

4

데이터 분석을 통해서 결과를 도출해요.

5

다양한 채널을 통해서 홍보합니다.

6

간접적인 경험을 통해서 깨달았어요.

7

정부의 지원을 통해서 가능했습니다.

8

지속적인 소통을 통해서 신뢰를 쌓아요.

1

문학적 은유를 통해서 주제를 전달합니다.

2

심층 면접을 통해서 인재를 선발합니다.

3

역사적 고찰을 통해서 미래를 전망합니다.

4

사회적 합의를 통해서 정책을 수립해요.

5

예술 활동을 통해서 감정을 치유합니다.

6

기술적 혁신을 통해서 생산성을 높입니다.

7

철학적 사유를 통해서 본질을 탐구합니다.

8

비판적 사고를 통해서 오류를 수정합니다.

1

변증법적 과정을 통해서 진리에 도달하는 방식입니다.

2

문화적 교류를 통해서 상호 이해를 증진시킵니다.

3

엄격한 검증을 통해서 이론의 타당성을 입증합니다.

4

내면의 성찰을 통해서 자아를 완성해 나갑니다.

5

체계적인 시스템을 통해서 효율을 극대화합니다.

6

예기치 못한 사건을 통해서 운명이 뒤바뀝니다.

7

다각적인 접근을 통해서 문제의 근원을 파악합니다.

8

전통의 계승을 통해서 정체성을 유지합니다.

Common Collocations

대화를 통해서
경험을 통해서
소개를 통해서
노력을 통해서
정보를 통해서
협상을 통해서
기술을 통해서
교육을 통해서
관찰을 통해서
분석을 통해서

Idioms & Expressions

"길이 통하다"

to have a connection/path

마음이 통하다.

neutral

"말이 통하다"

to communicate well

우리는 말이 잘 통해요.

casual

"통하는 사이"

close relationship

우리는 통하는 사이야.

casual

"통할 리가 없다"

it won't work

그런 변명은 안 통해.

casual

"통하다 (to be accepted)"

to be understood/accepted

내 농담이 안 통하네.

casual

"통하는 길"

the right way

성공으로 통하는 길.

neutral

Easily Confused

~을/를 통해서 vs ~으로

Both indicate means.

~으로 is broader, ~통해서 is process-focused.

버스로 (by bus) vs. 버스를 통해서 (via the bus system).

~을/를 통해서 vs ~지나서

Both imply 'through'.

~지나서 is physical movement.

문을 지나서 (through the door).

~을/를 통해서 vs ~거쳐서

Both mean 'via'.

~거쳐서 implies a stopover.

서울을 거쳐서 (via Seoul).

~을/를 통해서 vs ~매개로

Both mean 'medium'.

~매개로 is very academic.

언어를 매개로 (via language).

Sentence Patterns

A1

Noun + 을/를 통해서 + Verb

책을 통해서 배웠어요.

B1

Noun + 을/를 통해서 + Noun + Verb

대화를 통해서 문제를 해결해요.

B1

Subject + Noun + 을/를 통해서 + Verb

나는 경험을 통해서 성장했다.

A2

Noun + 을/를 통해서 + Noun + 을/를 + Verb

인터넷을 통해서 정보를 얻어요.

B2

Noun + 을/를 통해서 + Subject + Verb

노력을 통해서 우리가 성공했다.

Word Family

Nouns

통로 pathway

Verbs

통하다 to pass through/connect

Related

통하여 formal variant

How to Use It

frequency

9/10

Formality Scale

통하여 (formal) 통해서 (neutral) 통해 (casual)

Common Mistakes

Using it for people directly without context → 친구를 통해서
You need the 'through' aspect.
Confusing with ~으로 → Both are okay, but ~통해서 is more specific to a process.
Don't overthink it.
Missing the object marker → 책을 통해서
Must use 을/를.
Using for physical movement → 터널을 지나서
Use 지나서 for physical traversal.
Overusing in every sentence → Vary with ~으로
Repetition sounds unnatural.

Tips

💡

Memory Palace

Imagine a tunnel labeled '통해서'.

💡

Native Habit

Use it to explain your source of info.

🌍

Politeness

Use it to sound professional.

💡

Shortcut

Noun + 을/를 + 통해서.

💡

Say It Right

Emphasize the 't'.

💡

Don't Mix

Don't use for physical movement.

💡

Did You Know?

It comes from 'to connect'.

💡

Study Smart

Pair it with common nouns.

💡

Writing Tip

Use '통하여' in essays.

💡

Speaking Tip

Use '통해' with friends.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Tongue' (Tong) that helps you 'speak through' (tong-hae-seo) things.

Visual Association

A tunnel connecting two mountains.

Word Web

Method Channel Process Bridge

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about how you learned Korean today.

Word Origin

Korean/Hanja

Original meaning: To connect or flow through

Cultural Context

None.

Equivalent to 'via' or 'through'.

Used in many K-drama dialogues about relationships.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At work

  • 이메일을 통해서
  • 회의를 통해서
  • 보고서를 통해서

At school

  • 수업을 통해서
  • 교과서를 통해서
  • 토론을 통해서

In relationships

  • 대화를 통해서
  • 소개를 통해서
  • 시간을 통해서

In daily life

  • 뉴스를 통해서
  • 인터넷을 통해서
  • 경험을 통해서

Conversation Starters

"어떻게 한국어를 배우게 되었나요?"

"어떤 방법을 통해서 스트레스를 푸나요?"

"친구를 통해서 새로운 사람을 만난 적 있나요?"

"대화를 통해서 오해를 푼 적 있나요?"

"어떤 경험을 통해서 성장했나요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 하루 있었던 일을 통해서 배운 점은?

내가 가장 좋아하는 학습 방법은 무엇인가요?

어떤 사람을 통해서 영감을 받았나요?

어떤 도구를 통해서 일을 효율적으로 하나요?

Frequently Asked Questions

8 questions

Yes, depending on the preceding noun.

Yes, e.g., 'through my brother'.

Yes, very similar.

No, use '지나서'.

It is neutral but sounds smart.

Yes, to '통해'.

No, it's a particle phrase.

After the noun it modifies.

Test Yourself

fill blank A1

책 ___ 통해서 공부해요.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 을

Needs object marker.

multiple choice A2

Which means 'through a friend'?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 친구를 통해서

통해서 is through.

true false B1

통해서 is used for physical movement like walking through a door.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Use 지나서 for physical movement.

match pairs B1

Word

Meaning

All matched!

Both are common collocations.

sentence order B2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Subject/Object/Verb order.

fill blank B2

데이터 분석 ___ 통해서 결과를 얻었다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 를

분석 ends in consonant, but wait, it ends in 'k', so use 을.

true false C1

통해서 is only for formal writing.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: False

Used in daily life too.

multiple choice C1

Which is the most formal?

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 통하여

통하여 is more formal.

sentence order C2

Tap words below to build the sentence
Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Logical structure.

fill blank C2

그는 ___을 통해서 진리를 찾았다.

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 사유

사유 (thought) fits context.

Score: /10

Related Content

This Word in Other Languages

〜を通じて Japanese
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!