This means 'throughout' a time or 'all over' a place. It covers the whole thing.
Noun + を通してPrimary
This means 'throughout' a time or 'all over' a place. It covers the whole thing.
この地域は一年を通して温暖な気候です。
This region has a mild climate throughout the year.
私はアニメを通して日本の文化に興味を持ちました。
I became interested in Japanese culture through anime.
友人を通して、彼と知り合いました。
I got to know him through a friend.
書物を通してだけでは、その国の真の文化を理解することはできない。
One cannot understand a country's true culture just through books.
弊社では、代理店を通して製品を販売しております。
Our company sells its products through distributors.
This phrase has two main uses. It can mean "all through" a time or place. Like saying "all through the year." It can also mean "by way of" something. Like saying "by way of the internet" or "through a friend." The sentence around it tells you which meaning to use.
〜を通して and 〜を通じて are very much alike. They both mean 'all through a time' or 'by using something'. But 〜を通して can mean someone did something on purpose for the whole time. 〜を通じて can mean something just happened or was true for that time. When they mean 'by using something', they are almost the same. 〜を通じて might sound a bit more formal. 〜にわたって is different. It only talks about a long time or a big area. It does not mean 'by using something'.
Don't use this when talking about a single moment. For example, you can't say "through 9 o'clock".
Often confused with(1)
Contrasts with(1)
More formal alternatives(2)
Less formal alternatives(1)
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