经 / 经由
by way of; via
Structure
从 起点 经／经由 中间 到达／传入 终点
What it means
By way of; via: names a stop or route between a start and an end. 经 can also mean 'after going through' a process.
How it is built
(从 + start) + 经／经由 + middle + 到达／传入／飞往 + end: 这趟航班经香港飞往悉尼 (This flight goes to Sydney via Hong Kong).
When to use it
Written. 经 takes a place on a route, or a process: 经研究决定, 'decided after study'. 经由 is only for routes. Spoken: 经过, or 在…转机 for flights.
Watch out
经由 is only for routes: ✗ 经由研究决定 ✓ 经研究决定. For a process use 经 or 经过.
Examples
佛教从印度经由丝绸之路传入中国。
Buddhism came into China from India by way of the Silk Road.
这趟航班经香港飞往悉尼。
This flight goes to Sydney via Hong Kong.
Learn this in Lesson 77 · HSK 6–7: 丝绸之路与唐朝 (The Silk Road and the Tang)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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