Definition
贯穿 (guàn chuān) means 'to run through' both physically (a river through a city) and abstractly (a theme through a work). Unlike 穿过 (chuān guò), which is only physical passing through a barrier, 贯穿 implies a continuous thread from one end to the other. In abstract use, it differs from 渗透 (shèn tòu 'to permeate gradually') and 连贯/贯通 (lián guàn/guàn tōng 'to link separate parts') by emphasizing a single unbroken line through the whole.
verb
to run through (physically)to permeateto be a connecting thread (abstractly)
Examples
- 贯穿。Zhè tiáo héliú guàn chuān le zhěng gè chéngshì.This river runs through the entire city.
- 贯穿。Lèguān de jīngshén guàn chuān le tā de yìshēng.An optimistic spirit permeated his whole life.
- 贯穿。Zhège xiànsuǒ guàn chuān le zhěng bù diànyǐng.This clue runs through the entire movie.
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