通条

通條

tōngtiáo

noun #37,373

Measure Word

一根通条 gēn

Meanings

1 poker (for a fire)
2 ramrod
3 cleaning rod (for a stove or barrel)

Characters

to pass through; clear

long thin object; stick

Examples

他用通条捅了捅炉子。

Tā yòng tōngtiáo tǒng le tǒng lúzi.

He gave the stove a poke with the rod.

这根通条是用来通烟囱的。

Zhè gēn tōngtiáo shì yòng lái tōng yāncōng de.

This rod is used for clearing the chimney.

Tips

memory

Literally tong (通, to pass through) + tiao (条, slender stick) — a thin metal rod whose job is to keep something passing through. Originally for clearing soot from stoves and chimneys; later extended to ramrods for muzzle-loading firearms.

Stroke Order

通 tōng

条 tiáo