通
Mnemonic
A massive cauldron tumbles off a cart and lands in the middle of the path, instantly creating a traffic jam. Horns blare, pedestrians swarm. Eventually people learn to stream around the cauldron like a roundabout, and traffic flows smoothly once more.
Additional thoughts
Picture a steaming iron cauldron sitting dead-center on a busy road. The path curves around it. The image of obstruction turning into flow mirrors how traffic works — constant adaptation to keep things moving.Quick recall
A cauldron blocks the path, spawning a huge traffic jam until everyone flows around it.Details
The keyword for 通 is traffic. This kanji conveys the idea of passing through, going along a road, or commuting — essentially the movement and flow associated with traffic. It extends beyond literal vehicular movement to encompass broader meanings such as communication, being well-versed in something, or the general concept of passage and accessibility. At its core, it represents the unobstructed flow of people, goods, or information from one point to another.
- On'yomi
- つう、つ
- Kun'yomi
- とお.る、とお.り、-とお.り、-どお.り、とお.す、とお.し、-どお.し、かよ.う