connective N2 common politewritten
を通して — through
を通して
Builds on を
Meaning
① via / by way of: through ~ / by way of ~ / via ~ — an intermediary, medium, or experience that something passes through
② throughout: throughout ~ / all through ~ — across the whole of a period or area, without a break
Key sentence
① via / by way of
友人を通して彼女と知り合った。
I got to know her through a friend.
② throughout
この地方は一年を通して暖かい。
This region is warm throughout the year.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | N + を通して | 経験を通して / 一生を通して |
Variants
を通じて ・ をつうじて — near-synonym, slightly more formal/written; both cover the 'via' and 'throughout' senses, with を通して a touch more spoken.
Examples
① via / by way of
ボランティア活動を通して多くを学んだ。
I learned a great deal through volunteer work.
② throughout
生涯を通して研究を続けた。
He continued his research throughout his life.
Easily confused with
によって によって marks the direct means or method that brings about a result (話し合いによって解決). を通して marks an intermediary or medium something passes through (友人を通して連絡) — going via something, not the method itself. 〜として として means 'as / in the capacity of' (代表として). を通して means 'through / via' — different roles despite both attaching the noun before する/通す-type expressions.
See を通して in real sentences
Jengo shows を通して the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar, A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.