About
The character 透 is constructed from the semantic component 辶, indicating movement, combined with the phonetic and semantic component 秀, which originally depicted a grain plant with drooping ears and carried connotations of excellence or prominence. This structure suggests an early meaning related to a kind of jumping or leaping action, a sense which later broadened and shifted to convey the idea of something passing through or penetrating a medium, whether physically as light through a window or conceptually as an idea being understood. From this core notion of penetration, its meaning further extended into more abstract realms, describing states of thoroughness or complete manifestation, such as in being transparent or having a thorough understanding, while its earlier athletic connotation is preserved in specific compound words related to jumping.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这块玻璃很透明。
阳光透过窗户照进来。
我渐渐摸透了他的脾气。
他向媒体透露了新消息。
房间太闷了，打开窗户透透气。
医生用X光透视了他的胸部。
一场大雨过后，他的衬衫湿透了。
经过分析，他终于看透了问题的本质。