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用 / 通过 … 来 … (by means of …)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
How do you learn new words?
- A classmate asks how you remember so many characters.
- I我use用my phone手机(computer) software软件to来memorise记new words生词。 — "I use a phone app to memorise new words."
use用 + tool + to来 + Verb
- use用 A to来 B = "use A to do B": A is the tool or method, B the purpose.
- to来 can be left out: I我use用my phone手机memorise记new words生词. With to来, the purpose sounds clearer.
I我use用my phone手机to来memorise记new words生词。

Complete: “I use a dictionary to look up new words.” 我____词典来查生词。
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
用 + tool + 来 + action.
through通过 + method + to来 + Verb
- through通过 A to来 B = "do B by means of A", often for methods and processes: through通过exercise运动to来lose weight减肥。 — "Lose weight through exercise."
- we / us我们can / may可以through通过network (computing…网络to来to learn学习。 — "We can learn through the internet."
he他through通过exercise运动to来lose weight减肥。
Build: “He loses weight through exercise.”
Difficulty 3/5 · 200 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
通过 + method + 来 + purpose.
The tool comes first
- Order: use用 + tool + (to来) + action: use用chopsticks筷子to have a meal吃饭, not to have a meal吃饭use用chopsticks筷子 in this pattern.
- to来 here is not "come"; it links the means to the purpose.
In 用手机来记生词, 来 means “come”.
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
来 links the means to the purpose here.
use用 versus through通过
- use用 takes a concrete tool or language: use用Chinese中文write写, use用computer电脑to make做.
- through通过 takes a method, process or channel: through通过network (computing…网络, through通过friend朋友to introduce (sb to sb)介绍.
please请use用Chinese中文write写。
Which fits a method? “He found the job through a friend's introduction.” 他____朋友介绍找到了工作。
Difficulty 1/5 · 100 coins + a small bonus on first completion today
A method or channel takes 通过.
Recap
- use用 + tool (+ to来) + Verb = use … to …; through通过 + method (+ to来) + Verb = by means of ….
- The means comes before the action; to来 links them.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Conjunctions.
A classmate asks how you remember so many characters. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.