---
title: "Shutong Meaning: 疏通 (shūtōng) Means “to dredge”"
description: "疏通 (shūtōng) means “to dredge; to unclog”. Hear its tones, see what 疏 and 通 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shutong"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 疏通 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

疏通 shūtōng

## to dredge; to unclog

## It can also mean

- to mediate; to smooth things over

## Its characters

1. 疏 shū to dredge
2. 通 tōng to go through

## In a sentence

工人正在疏通下水道。 The workers are unclogging the drain.

[More about 疏通](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E7%96%8F%E9%80%9A)

## More words with 疏 or 通

- [畅通 chàngtōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/changtong)
- [沟通 gōutōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/goutong)
- [交通 jiāotōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiaotong)
- [精通 jīngtōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jingtong)
- [开通 kāitōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/kaitong)
- [卡通 kǎtōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/katong)
- [流通 liútōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liutong)
- [普通 pǔtōng](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/putong)
- [普通话 pǔtōnghuà](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/putonghua)
- [疏散 shūsàn](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shusan)

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