通行
tōngxíng · HSK 6
pass/go through
🚶🛣️ 通 tōng (through) + 行 xíng (go/walk) = pass through
The two parts literally say through-go. A 通行证 is a pass or permit. The word also means in general use, as in something that goes through everywhere, like a currency accepted across regions.
通 — 辵 (辶) walk + 甬 yǒng (phonetic)
通 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 辶 (chuò) component means 'walk' or 'movement', giving the meaning of going through or passing. 甬 (yǒng), originally depicting a hanging bell or a path, supplies the sound. Together they convey 'to pass through, communicate, connect'.
行 — crossroads pictograph (left 彳 + right 亍)
行 originally pictured a four-way crossroads in oracle bone script, with two paths meeting. From 'road' it extended to 'walk, go, travel,' and then to 'a row, line' or 'business firm' (read háng). The two halves 彳 and 亍 are the split sides of that ancient crossroads.