Chinese–EnglishWith examples

通信

tōng xìn · tong xin

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 3

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to correspond (by letter etc)
  2. to communicate
  3. communication
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:24 cartoon

Letters from grandpa

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)爷爷(yéye)和(hé)他(tā)的(de)朋友(péngyou)通信(tōngxìn)四十(sìshí)年(nián)了(le)。

    My grandpa and his friend have corresponded for forty years.

  2. Liangliang

    四十年(sìshínián)？现在(xiànzài)不是(bùshì)都(dōu)用(yòng)手机(shǒujī)吗(ma)？

    Forty years? Doesn't everyone use phones now?

  3. Dengdeng

    他们(tāmen)不用(bùyòng)手机(shǒujī)，只(zhǐ)写信(xiěxìn)，一(yī)封(fēng)信(xìn)三天(sāntiān)才(cái)到(dào)。

    They do not use phones. They only write letters. A letter takes three days to arrive.

  4. Liangliang

    慢(màn)一点(yīdiǎn)，好像(hǎoxiàng)也(yě)很(hěn)有意思(yǒuyìsi)。我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)和(hé)你(nǐ)通信(tōngxìn)！

    Slow seems interesting too. I want to write letters with you!

  5. Dengdeng

    我们(wǒmen)住(zhù)一个(yīgè)房间(fángjiān)，你(nǐ)把(bǎ)信(xìn)放(fàng)在(zài)我(wǒ)桌子(zhuōzi)上(shàng)吧(ba)。

    We live in one room. Just put the letter on my desk.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)们(men)多(duō)年(nián)来(lái)一(yì)直(zhí)通(tōng)过(guò)写(xiě)信(xìn)通(tōng)信(xìn)。

We have been corresponding by letter for many years.

02

这(zhè)个(ge)山(shān)区(qū)信(xìn)号(hào)不(bù)好(hǎo)，通(tōng)信(xìn)很(hěn)不(bù)方(fāng)便(biàn)。

The signal in this mountainous area is poor, so communication is very inconvenient.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

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

The characters

Explore individually
通
tōng

to go through; to know well

信
xìn

letter; mail

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

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.

More words starting with TExplore words in context