Chinese–EnglishWith examples

不通

bù tōng · bu tong

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 6

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to be obstructed
  2. to be blocked up
  3. to be impassable
  4. to make no sense
  5. to be illogical
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In a conversation

0:22 cartoon

The road is open, the market is closed

  1. Liangliang

    前面(qiánmiàn)那条(nàtiáo)路(lù)不通(bùtōng)，在(zài)修路(xiūlù)。

    The road ahead is blocked. They are repairing it.

  2. Dengdeng

    啊(a)？那(nà)我们(wǒmen)怎么(zěnme)去(qù)菜市场(càishìchǎng)？

    Ah? Then how do we get to the market?

  3. Liangliang

    往(wǎng)左(zuǒ)走(zǒu)，那边(nàbian)的(de)小巷(xiǎoxiàng)也许(yěxǔ)通(tōng)。

    Go left. The alley over there might go through.

  4. Dengdeng

    哎(āi)，这条(zhètiáo)小巷(xiǎoxiàng)也(yě)不通(bùtōng)！

    Oh, this alley is blocked too!

  5. Liangliang

    看(kàn)，前面(qiánmiàn)那条(nàtiáo)路(lù)通(tōng)了(le)！

    Look, the road ahead is open now!

  6. Dengdeng

    路(lù)通(tōng)了(le)，可是(kěshì)菜市场(càishìchǎng)关门(guānmén)了(le)。

    The road is open, but the market is closed.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

除(chú)了(le)鼻(bí)子(zi)不(bù)通(tōng)以(yǐ)外(wài)，我(wǒ)还(hái)发(fā)着(zhe)高(gāo)烧(shāo)。

In addition to a blocked nose, I'm also suffering from a high temperature.

Tatoeba: Chinese by aeriph · English by aeriph · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

我(wǒ)打(dǎ)了(le)电(diàn)话(huà)给(gěi)你(nǐ)，但(dàn)却(què)接(jiē)不(bu)通(tōng)。

I tried to reach you on the phone, but I was unable to get through.

Tatoeba: Chinese by nickyeow · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Simplified Chinese conversion; Pinyin added or corrected.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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