通通

tōng tōng · HSK 7

all

🧲 tong-tong sounds like tongs grabbing it ALL up in one sweep

通 means pass-through or connect; doubled to 通通 it sweeps in everything, so it means all or entirely. The tōng tōng sound echoes tongs scooping up every last bit.

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'.

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'.

More Chinese words · How Chinese works