The Japanese word 通暁 (つうぎょう - tsūgyō)

 The Japanese word 通暁 (つうぎょう - tsūgyō) is a relatively formal term that means to be thoroughly familiar with, to have a deep and comprehensive understanding of something. It implies a level of knowledge that goes beyond mere familiarity and suggests a deep insight and grasp of the subject matter.

Here's how to use 通暁:

1. Subject of the Sentence (often with the particle 「は」 - wa or 「も」 - mo):

• When the subject is the person who possesses the deep understanding.
  • 「彼はその分野に通暁している。」 (Kare wa sono bun'ya ni tsūgyō shite iru.) - He is thoroughly familiar with that field.
  • 「彼女は古典文学にも通暁している。」 (Kanojo wa koten bungaku ni mo tsūgyō shite iru.) - She is also thoroughly familiar with classical literature.
  • 「長年の研究によって、彼はその歴史的事件に通暁するようになった。」 (Nagannen no kenkyuu ni yotte, kare wa sono rekishiteki jiken ni tsūgyō suru you ni natta.) - Through many years of research, he came to be thoroughly familiar with that historical event.

2. Verb (almost always with the particle 「する」 - suru):

• 通暁する (tsūgyō suru) is the most common way to use the word as a verb, meaning "to be thoroughly familiar with," "to have a deep understanding of."
  • 「彼は経済学のあらゆる側面に通暁している。」 (Kare wa keizaigaku no arayuru sokumen ni tsūgyō shite iru.) - He is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of economics.
  • 「事件の真相に通暁しているのは、おそらく彼だけだろう。」 (Jiken no shinsou ni tsūgyō shite iru no wa, osoraku kare dake darou.) - He is probably the only one who has a deep understanding of the truth of the incident.
  • 「その道の専門家でさえ、彼の知識の深さに通暁しているとは言えないかもしれない。」 (Sono michi no senmonka de sae, kare no chishiki no fukasa ni tsūgyō shite iru to wa ienai kamoshirenai.) - Even experts in that field might not be said to have a deep understanding of the depth of his knowledge. (Here, the nuance is that even experts might not fully grasp the extent of his understanding.)

3. Object of a Verb (less common, often with particles like 「を」 - o or 「に」 - ni):

• You might see 通暁 used as the object of a verb implying the attainment of deep knowledge.
  • 「彼は長年の努力の末、その技術に通暁の域に達した。」 (Kare wa nagannen no doryoku no sue, sono gijutsu ni tsūgyō no iki ni tasshita.) - After many years of effort, he reached a level of thorough understanding of that skill. (Here, 通暁の域 - tsūgyō no iki - means "the realm of thorough understanding.")
  • 「彼女は独学で古代文字に通暁した。」 (Kanojo wa dokugaku de kodai moji ni tsūgyō shita.) - She became thoroughly familiar with ancient scripts through self-study. (Here, 通暁した - tsūgyō shita - functions as the result of her learning.)

Nuances and Key Points:

• Deep and Comprehensive: 通暁 implies a level of understanding that is not superficial. It suggests a thorough grasp of the details and intricacies of the subject.
• Formal Tone: Like 私淑, 通暁 is a formal word often used in written language, academic settings, or serious discussions. In casual conversation, you might use phrases like 「詳しい」 (kuwashii - detailed, knowledgeable) or 「よく知っている」 (yoku shitte iru - knows well) more frequently.
• Often Related to Complex or Specialized Subjects: 通暁 is often used in relation to complex topics like academic disciplines, specialized skills, historical events, or intricate systems.
• Implies Effort and Time: Achieving 通暁 usually suggests a significant investment of time and effort in learning and understanding the subject.

In summary, use 通暁 (or 通暁する) when you want to convey that someone has a profound and comprehensive understanding of a particular subject, going beyond basic knowledge. It emphasizes the depth and thoroughness of their familiarity.