TOPIK II · LEVEL 4
-을/를 통해(서)
N을/를 통해(서) means 'through / by way of N' — the channel, medium or experience by which something happens.
격식 표현Formal & written phrasesHan: Chopsticks are a tool, so use (으)로, not 을/를 통해.
Examples
이 소식은 뉴스를 통해 알게 되었어요.I learned about this through the news.
여행을 통해 많은 것을 배웠다.I learned a lot through travelling.
친구를 통해 지금의 회사를 소개받았어요.I was introduced to my current company through a friend.
Don’t mix up
-을/를 통해(서)vs-(으)로(으)로 marks a tool or method (볼펜으로 쓰다); 을/를 통해 marks a channel or experience (뉴스를 통해 알다).How to build it
N+을/를 통해(서)
N+을/를 통한+N
인터넷 → 인터넷을 통해, 경험 → 경험을 통해
- Before a noun: N을/를 통한 N: 운동을 통한 건강 관리.
- Works for media, people and experiences, not for a physical tool (use (으)로).
Classic mistake
Wrong: 젓가락을 통해 밥을 먹어요.
Right: 젓가락으로 밥을 먹어요.
Chopsticks are a tool, so use (으)로, not 을/를 통해.
Practise -을/를 통해(서) on real TOPIK questions
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Start 7-day free trialMore level 4 grammar
All TOPIK grammar- -에 의해(서)-에 의해(서) means 'by (agent or cause)', often in passive sentences and formal writing.
- -(으)나-(으)나 is a formal written 'but / however', linking two contrasting clauses.
- -(으)되-(으)되 states or allows a first action and then adds a condition or limit to it, in a formal or written style.
- -(이)면 (조사)Attaches to a noun to mean 'if it is N / whenever it is N'; repeated as N(이)면 N, it means 'in every field, whatever you name'.
- -(으)ㄹ 게 아니라Use it to say that doing X is not the right move, so you should do Y instead: "rather than doing X, do Y."
- -(으)ㄹ 무렵-(으)ㄹ 무렵 means 'around the time when …'.
- -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다Use -(으)ㄹ 리가 없다 when you are convinced that something cannot possibly be true or happen, based on what you know.
- -(으)로 인해(서)-(으)로 인해(서) means 'due to / because of' (a cause), in formal speech and writing.
- -(으)ㄹ 바에는Use -(으)ㄹ 바에는 to say that if the only way is to do this unpleasant thing, you would rather do something else instead.