参透

參透

cāntòu

verb

Meanings

1 to fully grasp
2 to see through (a deeper truth)
3 to penetrate / comprehend completely

Characters

to investigate / partake

through / thoroughly

Examples

HSK 7-9

他终于参透了人生的真谛。

Tā zhōngyú cāntòu le rénshēng de zhēndì.

He finally grasped the true meaning of life.

HSK 7-9

禅师劝他慢慢参透这个公案。

Chánshī quàn tā mànmàn cāntòu zhègè gōng'àn.

The Chan master urged him to slowly penetrate this kōan.

Tips

culture

Buddhist flavor: 参 means meditative inquiry (as in 参禅 cānchán, sitting Chan), 透 means 'all the way through'. To 参透 something is to grasp it not just intellectually but at a deep, lived level.

Stroke Order

参 cān

透 tòu