を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） means through; via; throughout. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to show a medium, method, or entire period through which something happens.

This grammar point often appears in neutral to formal Japanese. If you want to show a medium, method, or entire period through which something happens, を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） is a useful pattern to learn.

What does を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） mean?

Use を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） when you want to show a medium, method, or entire period through which something happens.

Natural translations include:

• through; via; throughout
• through
• through / via / throughout

The best translation depends on the sentence. Try to notice the writer’s or speaker’s purpose first, then choose the English phrase that fits that context.

How to form を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

Noun + を通じて / Noun + を通して

Examples of the pattern:

• 友達を通じて
• 一年を通して
• 経験を通して

When is を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） used?

Use を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） in situations like:

• learning through experience
• communication via a person or tool
• events throughout a period

Tone and register:

• neutral to formal
• Common in JLPT reading, grammar questions, and natural Japanese sentences

を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） example sentences

• 友達を通じて、彼女と知り合った。 — I met her through a friend.
• 一年を通して、この町は暖かい。 — This town is warm throughout the year.
• 経験を通して、多くのことを学んだ。 — I learned many things through experience.
• インターネットを通じて、世界中の人と話せる。 — Through the internet, we can talk with people around the world.
• 仕事を通して、自信がついた。 — Through work, I gained confidence.

After reading each sentence, ask what job を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） is doing: showing a medium, method, or entire period through which something happens. That makes the nuance easier to remember than a one-word translation.

Nuance of を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

The key nuance is a channel or continuous span that connects the action.

This matters because を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） does more than translate one English phrase. It shows how the speaker connects ideas, evaluates a situation, or frames the sentence for the listener.

For example:

• In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
• Compared with によって, it has a different focus and level of formality.

を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） vs によって

Both を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） and によって can appear in related situations, but they are different.

を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）:

• means through; via; throughout
• fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

によって:

• can mark means or cause; を通じて/を通して emphasizes a channel, medium, or whole period

Quick contrast examples:

• Target: 友達を通じて、彼女と知り合った。 — I met her through a friend.
• Compare: Try replacing it with によって and check whether the nuance still matches.

If both translations seem possible, check the tone. Is the sentence casual, formal, written, explanatory, or emotional? The tone often tells you which grammar point is natural.

Common mistakes with を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it for a direct cause when によって is better
• Confusing 通じて and 通して with the verb 通る
• Forgetting the noun before を

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）, then rewrite it with によって. If the meaning or tone changes, explain that difference in your own words.

Is を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） on the JLPT?

Yes. を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions often test whether you understand the surrounding context, not just the dictionary meaning.

Practice questions for を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you learned through experience.
• Say you met someone through a friend.
• Describe something happening throughout the year.

Keep your first sentences simple. Once the structure feels natural, add more context so the nuance becomes clear.

Learning path for を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして）

To learn を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） efficiently, review basic particles like について and に, then focus on the relationship each formal marker creates.

1. First, make sure you can form を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with に対して（にたいして）, にとって. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write reading-style sentences about society, research, policy, opinions, and reports; then check whether replacing を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） with について changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• に対して（にたいして） — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• にとって — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• について — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.
• に関する / に関して — because it is another formal relation marker common in JLPT reading.

Learn を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） with Hane

If you want to review を通じて / を通して（をつうじて / をとおして） together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

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