通ります（とおります、toorimasu）
- to pass

The Japanese word 通ります (読み方: とおります, romanization: tōrimasu) is a versatile verb primarily meaning "to pass," "to go through," "to pass by," or "to cross." Its specific meaning varies depending on the context, but it always involves the idea of movement or traversing a space or state. It can also imply something "passing" or "going" in the sense of time. It's the polite form of the verb 通る (とおる, tōru), which means "to pass," "to go through," or "to be approved/accepted."

⚫︎ 道を通ります Translation: I pass [through] the road. ⚫︎ バスは橋を通ります Translation: The bus passes over the bridge. ⚫︎ 会議を通ります Translation: The meeting is passed (approved).

⚫︎ Use 通ります to describe physical movement: passing through a place, going through a door, crossing a street, etc. ⚫︎ It can also refer to the passage of time. ⚫︎ Use it when something is approved or accepted (e.g., a bill in a legislature). ⚫︎ This verb is commonly used in polite conversation and formal writing. ⚫︎ It's often used with particles like を (o - indicating the direct object or the path) and で (de - indicating the place where the action occurs). ⚫︎ Consider the context to grasp the nuance of "passing" or "going through". For example, 通ります can mean to "pass" an exam, to "go through" a difficult situation, or to simply "walk by" someone.

⚫︎ The word is typically written as 通ります in kanji and hiragana. ⚫︎ The kanji 通 means "to pass," "to go through," "to communicate," or "to understand." ⚫︎ The hiragana ります represents the verb ending and politeness marker. ⚫︎ The base form is 通る (とおる) - a dictionary form. ⚫︎ The variations with okurigana (hiragana suffixes) are standardized and don't typically change. For example: 通らない (tōranai - does not pass), 通りました (tōrimashita - passed)

⚫︎ 通過します (つうかします, tsūkashimasu): more formal, means "to pass through" or "to go through." ⚫︎ 経由します (けいゆします, keiyushimasu): means "to go via," "to pass through," or "to go by way of." It's used when talking about a route or a means of getting somewhere. ⚫︎ 渡ります (わたります, watarimasu): to cross (a bridge, street, etc.). ⚫︎ 入ります (はいります, hairimasu): to enter.

⚫︎ 止まります (とまります, tomarimasu): to stop. ⚫︎ 戻ります (もどります, modorimasu): to return. ⚫︎ There isn't one single direct antonym because 通ります has multiple meanings. The best antonym depends on the specific context.

この道を通りますか？ ・Translation: Do you pass [through] this road? ・Explanation: This sentence asks if someone is taking a particular route or path. It refers to physical movement.

試験に通りました！ ・Translation: I passed the exam! ・Explanation: This sentence uses 通ります in the context of success or approval. It means that the speaker has passed an examination.

The verb 通る comes from the classical Japanese verb 通う (かよう, kayou), which meant "to go back and forth" or "to frequent." Over time, the meaning shifted, encompassing the idea of movement, passage, and allowing to pass or being approved. The kanji 通 (tsū, tō) represents the concepts of passage and communication.