通す (toosu) – Meaning & Usage

通す（とおす） means continue through to the end. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to show doing something continuously or all the way through.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to show doing something continuously or all the way through, 通す（とおす） is a useful pattern to learn.

What does 通す（とおす） mean?

Use 通す（とおす） when you want to show doing something continuously or all the way through.

Natural translations include:

continue through to the end

How to form 通す（とおす）

Verb ます-stem + 通す

Examples of the pattern:

やり通す
働き通す
読み通す

When is 通す（とおす） used?

Use 通す（とおす） in situations like:

explaining grammar in context
answering JLPT reading questions
making natural Japanese sentences

Tone and register:

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

通す（とおす） example sentences

最後(さいご)までやり通(とお)すことが大切(たいせつ)だ。

It is important to carry it through to the end.

彼(かれ)は一日中(いちにちじゅう)働(はたら)き通した。

He worked continuously all day.

この本(ほん)を一晩(ひとばん)で読(よ)み通した。

I read this book all the way through in one night.

自分(じぶん)の意見(いけん)を最後(さいご)まで押(お)し通した。

He pushed his opinion through to the end.

雨(あめ)の中(なか)を走(はし)り通した。

I kept running through the rain.

After reading each sentence, ask what job 通す（とおす） is doing: showing doing something continuously or all the way through.

Nuance of 通す（とおす）

The key nuance is a natural way to express “continue through to the end” with the right context and tone.

This matters because 通す（とおす） does more than match a single English phrase. It shows how the speaker frames the condition, timing, example, role, intention, or contrast in the sentence.

For example:

In context, it sounds natural when the surrounding sentence supports the nuance.
Compared with 続ける, it has a different focus and level of formality.

通す（とおす） vs 続ける

Both 通す（とおす） and 続ける can appear in related situations, but they are different.

通す（とおす）:

means continue through to the end
fits the specific N3 pattern and nuance explained above

続ける:

続ける means continue; 通す emphasizes persistence all the way through a period or to the end

Quick contrast examples:

Target: 最後までやり通すことが大切だ。 — It is important to carry it through to the end.
Compare: Try replacing it with 続ける and check whether the nuance still matches.

Common mistakes with 通す（とおす）

❌

Using 通す with the wrong verb form.

✅

Attach 通す to the ます-stem of the verb.

❌

Confusing 通す with 続ける.

✅

Remember that 通す emphasizes carrying an action through to the end, while 続ける simply means to continue.

❌

Translating it too literally instead of reading the whole sentence.

✅

Read the full context to confirm the nuance of “all the way through” fits.

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with 通す（とおす）, then rewrite it with 続ける.

Is 通す（とおす） on the JLPT?

Yes. 通す（とおす） is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

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

Practice questions for 通す（とおす）

1 Write one sentence using 通す（とおす）. Production

2 Contrast 通す（とおす） with 続ける. Comparison

3 Make a JLPT-style sentence where the context makes the meaning clear. Context

Learning path for 通す（とおす）

1 First, make sure you can form 通す（とおす） without looking at the pattern chart.

2 Next, compare it with 続ける, JLPT N3 grammar lessons. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.

3 Finally, write sentences where the grammar point’s nuance is necessary; then check whether replacing 通す（とおす） with JLPT N3 grammar lessons changes the meaning.

続ける — keep doing.

Learn 通す（とおす） with Hane

If you want to review 通す（とおす） together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

FAQ about 通す

What does 通す (toosu) mean in Japanese?

通す (toosu) means “continue through to the end”. It is JLPT N3 grammar. Use 通す（とおす） when you want to show doing something continuously or all the way through.

How do you form 通す (toosu)?