Translation guide
The English word 'through' has many uses as a preposition, adverb, and adjective. This guide covers the most common meanings and how to express them naturally in Japanese, organized by function.
Expressing physical movement from one side of something to the other, or passing within a space.
Use this pattern to mean 'pass through' a space, such as a tunnel, forest, or crowd. The verb 通り抜ける (とおりぬける) specifically means to go through and out the other side.
トンネルを通り抜けた。
We passed through the tunnel.
It's tough to get through the crowd.
A more general verb meaning 'to pass through' or 'to go along'. It can be used for roads, gates, or checkpoints.
この道を通って駅に行く。
I go to the station through this road.
Using the te-form of 抜ける (ぬける) to mean 'through' and then continuing the action. Often used when exiting a space.
森を抜けて湖に出た。
We went through the forest and came to a lake.
Expressing penetration or passage through a substance, like light through glass or sound through walls.
This is the most common way to say 'through' when something passes through a medium. It can be used for physical penetration or abstract mediation.
窓を通して光が差し込む。
Light comes in through the window.
壁を通して声が聞こえる。
I can hear voices through the wall.
Used when an action is done through or over something, often implying a barrier. Common with glass, windows, or shoulders.
ガラス越しに話した。
We talked through the glass.
Expressing duration from the beginning to the end of a time period.
This pattern emphasizes continuity throughout a period. ずっと adds the sense of 'all through'.
夏の間ずっと旅行していた。
I traveled all through the summer.
Attached to time nouns to mean 'throughout' or 'all through'. For example, 一年中 (いちねんじゅう) means 'all year round'.
彼は一晩中起きていた。
He stayed up all through the night.
More formal, often used for periods or entire spans of time.
この地域は一年を通じて温暖だ。
This region is mild all through the year.
Expressing that something is done via a person, system, or process.
Used for both physical and abstract mediation. Very common for 'through an agent'.
友人を通して彼女と知り合った。
I got to know her through a friend.
Literally 'via', often used for routes or intermediaries. More formal.
旅行会社経由で予約した。
I booked through a travel agency.
Expressing completion or being finished with something.
The most direct way to say 'I'm through' or 'It's finished'. Casual.
仕事はもう終わった。
I'm through with work already.
Implies completion of a task or duty, often with a sense of relief.
宿題は済んだよ。
I'm through with my homework.
Expressing thoroughness or being completely something.
Adverb meaning 'completely' or 'thoroughly'. Often used with verbs of change.
彼はすっかり疲れている。
He's tired through and through.
Means 'thoroughly' or 'exhaustively', often used for investigations or preparations.
彼は徹底的に調査した。
He investigated it through and through.
English uses 'through' in many idiomatic ways that don't map to a single Japanese word. For example, 'read through a book' is often just 読む (よむ) without a 'through' equivalent. Pay attention to the verb and context.
Both can mean 'through' in the sense of a medium or time period. を通して (をとおして) is more common for physical passage and mediation, while を通じて (をつうじて) is slightly more formal and often used for time spans or abstract connections.
インターネットを通して情報を得る。
Get information through the internet.
一年を通じて暖かい。
Warm all through the year.