When do I use 经过 vs 通过?

As a coverb, use 经过 to emphasize the process or experience (e.g., 经过讨论 'through discussion' as a process), and 通过 to emphasize the means or method that achieves a result (e.g., 通过这次机会 'through this opportunity' as a means). As a verb for physical passage, both are possible but 经过 focuses on the journey aspect, while 通过 focuses on crossing a barrier. For 'passing' something like a law or exam, use 通过.

Can both 经过 and 通过 be used for physical passing through a place?

Yes, both can be used as verbs meaning 'to pass through'. For example, 火车经过大桥 and 火车通过大桥 are both correct. 经过 feels more like the train is going over the bridge as part of a longer route; 通过 emphasizes the act of crossing that specific bridge. The choice depends on nuance.

Is ‘经过努力’ equivalent to ‘通过努力’?

Not exactly. 通过努力 means 'by means of effort' (effort as the method), while 经过努力 means 'through the process of effort' (focus on the process itself). In many contexts they are interchangeable, but if the emphasis is on the method leading directly to a result, 通过 is preferred; if the emphasis is on undergoing the process, 经过 is better.

Can 通过 be used as a coverb for methods that are not actions?

Yes, 通过 can be followed by nouns that denote methods or channels, e.g., 通过互联网 ('through the internet'), 通过关系 ('through connections'). 经过 is not used in this way for non-process nouns.

Easily confusedHSK 5

经过 vs 通过: through process vs through means

Both 经过 (jīngguò) and 通过 (tōngguò) can mean 'through', but they emphasize different aspects. 经过 highlights the process, experience, or physical passage through a place or time, often implying a stage or intermediate steps. 通过 focuses on the means or method that achieves a result, or the act of crossing a barrier or being approved. As coverbs, they are not interchangeable: 通过 introduces the method, while 经过 introduces the process.

The coverbs 经过 (jīngguò) and 通过 (tōngguò) both translate to 'through' in English, but serve different functions. 经过 emphasizes the process, experience, or physical passage through a location or period of time; it often implies that the path is significant or that something is undergone. 通过, as a coverb, signals the means or method by which a result is achieved, equivalent to 'by' or 'via'. Both can also function as verbs meaning 'to pass through' a physical space, but 通过 carries an additional sense of crossing a barrier or being approved, while 经过 here too highlights the act of passing through as a stage. Understanding which dimension is being foregrounded—process vs. method/barrier-crossing—is the key to choosing correctly.

When to use each

经过jīngguò

through / via

Use 经过 to emphasize the process of going through a physical location, a period of time, or a series of events. As a coverb, it means 'through the process of' and often implies that the subject has experienced or undergone something. For example, 经过努力 (through effort) suggests that the effort itself was a process, not just a means.

When both 经过 and 通过 are possible as verbs of physical passage (e.g., crossing a bridge), 经过 feels more like passing through as part of a journey, while 通过 emphasizes the act of crossing a clear boundary or obstacle.

通过tōngguò

through / by

Use 通过 to indicate the means or method by which something is achieved (coverb, 'by means of'), or as a verb meaning to pass through a barrier, checkpoint, or approval process. It focuses on the cause-effect relationship between the method and the result, or on the successful crossing of a defined point.

As a verb, 通过 can also mean 'to adopt/pass' (e.g., a resolution); in such cases 经过 is never used. In coverb usage, 通过 is often interchangeable with 用 (yòng) but is more formal.

At a glance

	经过	通过
Core meaning as coverb	Emphasizes the process or experience of going through something	Emphasizes the means or method that produces a result
Verb meaning 'to pass through'	To pass through a place/period (focus on the act as a stage)	To cross a barrier/checkpoint or be approved (focus on successful traversal)
Typical English equivalents	through (process), via (path)	by (means of), through (barrier)
Example: 通过考试	Not used in this sense	To pass an exam (succeed in crossing the barrier)
Example: 经过这次会议	Through/after this meeting (process of the meeting itself)	Not typical — 通过这次会议 means 'by means of this meeting' (method to achieve something else)

Examples

经过
火车经过南京长江大桥时，我看到了美丽的风景。
Huǒchē jīngguò Nánjīng Chángjiāng Dàqiáo shí, wǒ kàndào le měilì de fēngjǐng.
When the train passed through the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, I saw beautiful scenery.
Emphasizes the experience of passing through the bridge as part of the journey.
通过
火车通过南京长江大桥需要十分钟。
Huǒchē tōngguò Nánjīng Chángjiāng Dàqiáo xūyào shí fēnzhōng.
The train takes ten minutes to cross the Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge.
Emphasizes the act of crossing the bridge (a physical barrier). Both 经过 and 通过 are grammatical here, with a slight nuance difference.
通过
通过努力学习，他考上了大学。
Tōngguò nǔlì xuéxí, tā kǎo shàng le dàxué.
Through hard work (by means of hard studying), he was admitted to university.
通过 introduces the method that directly leads to the result. 经过努力学习 would mean 'after the process of hard work' and is also possible but sounds less natural for this cause-effect relation.
经过
经过多次讨论，我们终于做出了决定。
Jīngguò duō cì tǎolùn, wǒmen zhōngyú zuò chū le juédìng.
Through several discussions (after the process of discussing), we finally made a decision.
经过 here emphasizes the process of discussions. 通过多次讨论 would mean 'by means of multiple discussions' and could also be used, but 经过 is more natural when focusing on the process.
通过
这个提案已经通过了议会。
Zhège tí'àn yǐjīng tōngguò le yìhuì.
This proposal has been passed by the parliament.
通过 as a verb meaning 'to pass' (approve). 经过 cannot be used here.
经过
经过三年的努力，他的汉语水平提高了很多。
Jīngguò sān nián de nǔlì, tā de Hànyǔ shuǐpíng tígāo le hěnduō.
Through three years of effort (after a process of three years), his Chinese level improved a lot.
经过 introduces the time period as a process. 通过三年的努力 would be possible but would treat the three years as a method, which is less idiomatic.

Common mistakes

Using 经过 instead of 通过 to introduce a means that directly causes a result (e.g., '经过努力学习他考上了' sounds like 'after the process of hard work' rather than 'by means of hard work'; use 通过 for cause-effect).
Using 通过 instead of 经过 to describe the process of experiencing a period or journey (e.g., '通过三年的经验' is odd; use 经过 to emphasize the experience).
Thinking 通过 cannot be used for physical passage (e.g., '火车通过大桥' is perfectly correct; it means to cross the bridge).
Using 经过 for 'pass a test/exam' (the verb 通过考试 is required; 经过考试 would mean 'after the exam', not 'pass').

FAQ

When do I use 经过 vs 通过?: As a coverb, use 经过 to emphasize the process or experience (e.g., 经过讨论 'through discussion' as a process), and 通过 to emphasize the means or method that achieves a result (e.g., 通过这次机会 'through this opportunity' as a means). As a verb for physical passage, both are possible but 经过 focuses on the journey aspect, while 通过 focuses on crossing a barrier. For 'passing' something like a law or exam, use 通过.
Can both 经过 and 通过 be used for physical passing through a place?: Yes, both can be used as verbs meaning 'to pass through'. For example, 火车经过大桥 and 火车通过大桥 are both correct. 经过 feels more like the train is going over the bridge as part of a longer route; 通过 emphasizes the act of crossing that specific bridge. The choice depends on nuance.
Is ‘经过努力’ equivalent to ‘通过努力’?: Not exactly. 通过努力 means 'by means of effort' (effort as the method), while 经过努力 means 'through the process of effort' (focus on the process itself). In many contexts they are interchangeable, but if the emphasis is on the method leading directly to a result, 通过 is preferred; if the emphasis is on undergoing the process, 经过 is better.
Can 通过 be used as a coverb for methods that are not actions?: Yes, 通过 can be followed by nouns that denote methods or channels, e.g., 通过互联网 ('through the internet'), 通过关系 ('through connections'). 经过 is not used in this way for non-process nouns.