▎透過, tòuguò, (Prep), by means of

 

Function The preposition 透過 indicates facilitation by an intermediate means; it describes the way, method, or mode by which something is accomplished.

1 我們能透過網路知道世界各地的消息。

Wǒmen néng tòuguò wǎnglù zhīdào shìjiè gè dì de xiāoxí.

We know what is happening worldwide through the use of internet.

2 他透過參加社團活動認識了很多朋友。

Tā tòuguò cānjiā shètuán huódòng rènshìle hěn duō péngyǒu.

He met many friends by going to student group activities.

3 我透過李教授才找到這個工作。

Wǒ tòuguò Lǐ jiàoshòu cái zhǎodào zhè ge gōngzuò.

I got this job thanks to Professor Li.

 

Structures 透過 belongs to a small sub-category of prepositions that can occur either sentence-initially or in front of VP.

1 透過這次參觀，外國學生知道怎麼做紙傘了。

Tòuguò zhè cì cānguān, wàiguó xuéshēng zhīdào zěnme zuò zhǐsǎn le.

Through this official visit, the international students learned how to make umbrellas (made of papers).

2 中國人相信透過食物能讓身體越來越健康。

Zhōngguó rén xiāngxìn tòuguò shíwù néng ràng shēntǐ yuèláiyuè jiànkāng.

Chinese people believe that diet is the key to good health.

3 很多人透過電視節目練習聽的能力。

Hěn duō rén tòuguò diànshì jiémù liànxí tīng de nénglì.

Many people practice their listening skills by watching television.

Negation：

1 不透過考試，有的老師不能了解學生學得好不好。

Bú tòuguò kǎoshì, yǒu de lǎoshī bù néng liǎojiě xuéshēng xué de hǎo bù hǎo.

Without tests, some teachers would not know how well their students are doing.

2 聽說不透過介紹是很難到那家公司工作的。

Tīngshuō bú tòuguò jièshào shì hěn nán dào nà jiā gōngsī gōngzuò de.

I’ve heard it’s really hard to get into that company unless you are recommended.

3 你不透過長時間的練習是學不會的。

Nǐ bú tòuguò cháng shíjiān de liànxí shì xuébúhuì de.

You’ll never learn without lots of practice.

Questions：

1 你們是透過美美介紹認識的嗎？

Nǐmen shì tòuguò Měiměi jièshào rènshì de ma?

Were you introduced to each other by Meimei?

2 他到國外旅行都是透過這個網站找到適合的旅館嗎？

Tā dào guówài lǚxíng dōu shì tòuguò zhè ge wǎngzhàn zhǎodào shìhé de lǚguǎn ma?

Did he use this website to find accommodations for his travels abroad?

3 是不是有很多公司都透過網路，替自己的產品做廣告？

Shìbúshì yǒu hěn duō gōngsī dōu tòuguò wǎnglù, tì zìjǐ de xīn chǎnpǐn zuò guǎnggào?

Do many companies promote their new products online?

 

Usage The prep 透過 has a similar internal formation to other words such as 經過jīngguò (Prep) ‘via’, 超過chāoguò (Vp) ‘to exceed’, 越過yuèguò (V) ‘to cross over’.

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