通

Core concept: the absence of blockage, denoting permeability, flow, or an unobstructed channel between two points.

• Physical/Spatial: To pass through, lead to, or be open. Refers to conduits such as roads, waterways, or biological channels (breath, qi). As an adjective: "unblocked" or "accessible."
• Communicative/Intellectual: Establishing a link between parties; fluency and comprehensive mastery of the internal logic of a subject.
• General/Universal: Universally applicable. In later usage, this extends to meaning "ordinary," "vulgar," or "commonplace" (e.g., 通俗).

Functions both transitively (connecting A to B) and intransitively (the path is open/clear). When following another verb, it can function as a resultative complement indicating that an action has successfully achieved clarity or "broken through."

• 通 vs. 達: 通 emphasizes the conduit (the fact that the way is open), while 達 emphasizes the destination (attaining a goal or location).
• 通 vs. 徹: 通 suggests openness and connection; 徹 implies forceful piercing or rigorous completeness from beginning to end.

Tang-period reading: *tung. Fanqie: 他紅.

In archaic texts, prioritize senses of "permeability" and "fluency" over the later sense of "ordinariness."