What are the main meanings of 过?

过 has three primary meanings: 1) to pass/cross/go through (过马路), 2) to exceed/make a mistake (过错), and 3) as a grammatical particle indicating past experience (吃过).

Is 过 commonly used in names?

过 is relatively uncommon in modern Chinese names, though it can be found in some historical or literary contexts, often conveying the idea of having experienced life or overcoming challenges.

How is 过 used grammatically?

As a grammatical particle, 过 follows verbs to indicate that an action has been experienced in the past, equivalent to 'have done' in English.

過Tone 4

guò ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

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過 · guò

To pass;

to cross;

to go through;

to exceed;

to experience;

to make a mistake;

used as a past tense marker in some contexts.

To passto crossto go through

Usage highlights

To pass byTo cross the roadTo celebrate a holidayTo go through a processTo exceed the limitTo make a mistake

Synonyms

经— to pass through; to undergo
越— to exceed; to go beyond
错— mistake; error

Antonyms

未— not yet; has not happened
欠— to lack; to be deficient

Usage & contexts

Examples

I passed by the store (过商店).
He has already experienced this (经历过).
We crossed the bridge (过桥).
She made a mistake (犯过错).
I have eaten (吃过了).

Collocations

To pass by(经过)
To cross the road(过马路)
To celebrate a holiday(过节)
To go through a process(过程)
To exceed the limit(超过)
To make a mistake(过错)

Idioms

To mend the fold after the sheep are lost(亡羊补牢，犹未为过)
To go too far is as bad as not going far enough(过犹不及)
To pass by a door without entering(过门不入)
A fault confessed is half redressed(知过能改，善莫大焉)
To have seen much of the world(见过世面)

Cultural background

FAQ

Used as a grammatical particle to indicate past experience or completion of an action.
In traditional culture, 'passing through' events like festivals (过节) carries significant social importance.
The concept of 'guo' (fault/mistake) is important in Confucian thought regarding self-cultivation and improvement.

過 (guò) - To pass & to cross