‘通讯’ (tōng xùn) is a noun meaning ‘communication’ or ‘telecommunications’, especially in formal, technical, or institutional contexts. The first character 通 (tōng) means ‘to connect’, ‘to pass through’, or ‘to make accessible’, while 讯 (xùn) means ‘message’, ‘information’, or ‘news’. Together, they convey the idea of transmitting messages across distance — historically via letters or telegraphs, today including mobile networks, internet messaging, and satellite systems.

This word is commonly used in official documents, news reports, engineering fields, and corporate settings — for example, in terms like 通讯公司 (telecom company), 通讯技术 (communication technology), or 通讯卫星 (communications satellite). It is more formal and broader in scope than everyday words like 聊天 (chatting) or 打电话 (making a phone call), and rarely appears in casual speech among friends.