bin3 tung1變通变通
Jyutpingbin3 tung1
Yalebin tūng
Definition
To adapt flexibly; to accommodate or make changes according to different situations.
colloquialdaily actionsdescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on the ability to adjust one's methods or thinking when faced with unexpected obstacles or changing circumstances. It implies a positive, pragmatic approach to problem solving rather than just following rules blindly. It is often used as advice to someone who is being too stubborn or literal.
Examples
You need to be flexible in life, don't be so rigid.
Related words
Common phrases
to adapt flexibly
to know how to be flexible
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 改變, which simply means to change something. 變通 specifically refers to changing one's strategy or approach to achieve a goal, rather than changing the goal itself.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
