Chinese word

打不通

Pronunciation

Pinyindǎ bù tōng

Meaning

  • verbcan't get through

Example

他的电话打不通。tā de diàn huà dǎ bù tōng

Calls to him can't get through.

Illustration for 打不通 (can't get through)

More examples

我连打好几次，他的手机还是打不通。wǒ lián dǎ hǎo jǐ cì tā de shǒu jī hái shì dǎ bù tōng

I called several times, but I still couldn't get through to his cell phone.

Core concept

A phone call meets a barrier instead of opening a connection to the other side.

Common phrases

  • 打不通电话dǎ bù tōng diàn huà

    can't get through on the phone

  • 打不通手机dǎ bù tōng shǒu jī

    can't get through to a cell phone

Similar words

联系不上lián xì bú shàng: A person remains out of reach despite attempts to contact them.
接不到jiē bú dào: A phone call cannot reach an answer from the other person.
拨不通bō bù tōng: The dialing attempt cannot make the phone line connect.
无法接通wú fǎ jiē tōng: A phone or network connection is impossible to establish.

Definition in Chinese

表示尝试通过电话联系但因线路或对方原因未能接通，强调动作未成功或处于无法联系的结果。biǎo shì cháng shì tōng guò diàn huà lián xì dàn yīn xiàn lù huò duì fāng yuán yīn wèi néng jiē tōng qiáng diào dòng zuò wèi chéng gōng huò chǔ yú wú fǎ lián xì de jié guǒ

Word origin

打不通 (dǎbùtōng, "unable to get through") uses 打 (dǎ, "make a phone call") for the attempt and 不通 (bùtōng, "not pass through") for its unsuccessful result.

Usage tips

  • The expression describes the result of trying to call, so it can cover either a line problem or an unreachable person without identifying which cause is responsible.

Other meanings

  • can't reachverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word