過

Stroke order

Note that the box in the upper part of 咼 differs in simplified Chinese – in simplified Chinese fonts it is on the left, while in Japanese and traditional Chinese it is on the right (as seen in the Kangxi dictionary).

過 (Kangxi radical 162, 辵+8 in Chinese, 辵+9 in Japanese, 11 strokes in Chinese, 12 strokes in Japanese, cangjie input 卜月月口 (YBBR), four-corner 3730₂, composition ⿺辶咼)

• 㗻 撾 檛 濄 膼 䙤 鐹 䆼 簻 薖
• 𠏀 𡑟 𡢤 𢅗 𢣄 𥖤 𫃓 𧒖 𨆔 𨊐 𩟂 𩼣 𪇍 𫑌 𫑑 𪆹 𤻌
• 𭶏 𭺚 𬩕 𬩟 𬩧

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1261, character 22
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 39002
• Dae Jaweon: page 1753, character 6
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 6, page 3849, character 8
• Unihan data for U+904E

Historical forms of the character 過
Western Zhou	Warring States		Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Qin slip script	Small seal script

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kloːl, *kloːls) : semantic 辵 (“walk”) + phonetic 咼 (OC *kʰʷroːl).

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m/s-ka-j (“to go, to stride”) (STEDT). Related to 跨 (OC *kʰʷraː, *kʰʷraːʔ, *kʰʷraːs, *kʰʷaːs, “to pass over”) and 騎 (OC *ɡral, *ɡrals, “to ride”).

過

1. to cross; to pass; to go across; to pass through

   坐這艘船過河很安全。 [MSC, trad.]
   坐这艘船过河很安全。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zuò zhè sōu chuán guò hé hěn ānquán.

   It is safe to cross the river in this boat.

   請您趕快過安檢，現在已經登機了。 [MSC, trad.]
   请您赶快过安检，现在已经登机了。 [MSC, simp.]

   Qǐng nín gǎnkuài guò ānjiǎn, xiànzài yǐjīng dēngjī le.

   Please hurry up to pass the security check, it's already boarding time.

   過了百貨公司便向右拐。 [MSC, trad.]
   过了百货公司便向右拐。 [MSC, simp.]

   Guò le bǎihuò gōngsī biàn xiàng yòu guǎi.

   Turn to the right after passing the department store.

2. (of time) to pass by; to pass

   時間過得很快。／时间过得很快。  ―  Shíjiān guò de hěn kuài.  ―  Time flies quickly.

   過了許多年我們才偶然相逢。 [MSC, trad.]
   过了许多年我们才偶然相逢。 [MSC, simp.]

   Guò le xǔduō nián wǒmen cái ǒurán xiāngféng.

   Many years were to pass before we crossed our paths again.

3. to spend time; to live

   過著艱苦的生活 [MSC, trad.]
   过着艰苦的生活 [MSC, simp.]

   guò zhe jiānkǔ de shēnghuó

   to live a hard life.

   佢打算返澳洲過暑假。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢打算返澳洲过暑假。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ daa² syun³ faan¹ ou³ zau¹ gwo³ syu² gaa³.

   He is planning to spend his summer holiday in Hong Kong.

4. to transfer; to move to

   我過咗三千蚊落你戶口度。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   我过咗三千蚊落你户口度。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   ngo⁵ gwo³ zo² saam¹ cin¹ man¹ lok⁶ nei⁵ wu⁶ hau² dou⁶.

   I transferred three thousand dollars into your account.

5. to cause to go through

   過秤／过秤  ―  guòchèng  ―  to weigh

   把煮好的麵過一下涼水 [MSC, trad.]
   把煮好的面过一下凉水 [MSC, simp.]

   bǎ zhǔ hǎo de miàn guò yī xià liáng shuǐ

   Put the boiled noodles through cold water.

6. to go over; to look at carefully; to go through

   我們把這篇稿子再過一遍。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们把这篇稿子再过一遍。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen bǎ zhè piān gǎozi zài guò yībiàn.

   Let's go over the draft once again.

7. to exceed; to surpass; to be over

   過期／过期  ―  guòqī  ―  overdue

   年過六十／年过六十  ―  nián guò liùshí  ―  to be over 60 years of age

8. excessive; undue; overboard

   把話說得太過了／把话说得太过了  ―  bǎ huà shuō de tài guò le  ―  said way too much.

9. to pass an exam
10. verbal complement
    1. indicating passing by; over; by

       我成日都會行過呢間士多。 [Cantonese, trad.]
       我成日都会行过呢间士多。 [Cantonese, simp.]

       ngo⁵ seng⁴ jat⁶ dou¹ wui⁵ haang⁴ gwo³ ni¹ gaan¹ si⁶ do¹.

       I always walk by this corner store.

    2. indicating a change in direction; over; away
    3. indicating an excess in degree or amount; past; through; by

       坐過站了！／坐过站了！  ―  Zuò guò zhàn le!  ―  I rode past my station!

       我今天早上睡過了。 [MSC, trad.]
       我今天早上睡过了。 [MSC, simp.]

       Wǒ jīntiān zǎoshàng shuì guò le.

       I overslept this morning.

       他父親恐怕活不過今晚。 [MSC, trad.]
       他父亲恐怕活不过今晚。 [MSC, simp.]

       Tā fùqīn kǒngpà huó bù guò jīnwǎn.

       I'm afraid his father may not make it past this evening.

    4. indicating superiority; better than

       你打得過他嗎？／你打得过他吗？  ―  Nǐ dǎ de guò tā ma?  ―  Do you play better than him?

    5. (Cantonese) indicating that an event is worthwhile

       呢間茶樓啲點心又貴又唔係特別好食，真係食唔過。 [Cantonese, trad.]
       呢间茶楼啲点心又贵又唔系特别好食，真系食唔过。 [Cantonese, simp.]

       ni¹ gaan¹ caa⁴ lau⁴ di¹ dim² sam¹ jau⁶ gwai³ jau⁶ m⁴ hai⁶ dak⁶ bit⁶ hou² sik⁶, zan¹ hai⁶ sik⁶ m⁴ gwo³.

       The dim sum at this restaurant is quite expensive and not particularly tasty, so it's not worth eating.

11. (chiefly literary or Cantonese) adjectival complement indicating an excess in degree or amount; more ... than

    佢高過我。／佢高过我。 [Guangzhou Cantonese]  ―  keoi⁵ gou¹ gwo³ ngo⁵.   ―  He/she is taller than me.

    佢梗係叻過我啦。 [Guangzhou Cantonese, trad.]
    佢梗系叻过我啦。 [Guangzhou Cantonese, simp.]

    keoi⁵ gang² hai⁶ lek¹ gwo³ ngo⁵ laa¹.

    He/she is definitely smarter than me.

    • 子曰：「由也好勇過我，無所取材。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
      子曰：「由也好勇过我，无所取材。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

      From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

      Zǐyuē: “Yóu yě hào yǒng guò wǒ, wú suǒ qǔ cái.”

      Upon which the Master said, "Zhong You is fonder of daring than I am. He does not exercise his judgment upon matters."

12. particle indicating that an event or state has occurred already; ever; already

    你去過中國嗎？／你去过中国吗？  ―  Nǐ qù guo Zhōngguó ma?  ―  Have you (ever) been to China?

    你有冇去過香港啊？ [Cantonese, trad.]
    你有冇去过香港啊？ [Cantonese, simp.]

    nei⁵ jau⁵ mou⁵ heoi³ gwo³ hoeng¹ gong² aa³?

    Have you ever been to Hong Kong?

    你見過我個女朋友未呀？ [Cantonese, trad.]
    你见过我个女朋友未呀？ [Cantonese, simp.]

    nei⁵ gin³ gwo³ ngo⁵ go³ neoi⁵ pang⁴ jau⁵ mei⁶ aa³?

    Have you seen my girlfriend yet?

13. (Cantonese, Gan) particle indicating repetition of an event; again

    我作文揀錯咗題目，要從頭寫過。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    我作文拣错咗题目，要从头写过。 [Cantonese, simp.]

    ngo⁵ zok³ man^4-2 gaan² co³ zo² tai⁴ muk⁶, jiu³ cung⁴ tau⁴ se² gwo³.

    I picked the wrong topic for the essay, so I have to write it all over again.

14. too; excessively

    他們抱怨工資過低。 [MSC, trad.]
    他们抱怨工资过低。 [MSC, simp.]

    Tāmen bàoyuàn gōngzī guò dī.

    They complained that the wages were too low.

15. fault; blemish; mistake

    將功補過／将功补过  ―  jiānggōngbǔguò  ―  to make up for one's mistakes with good deeds

    吾過矣！／吾过矣！ [Classical Chinese]  ―  Wú guò yǐ!   ―  I am/was wrong! / I have erred!

16. (Cantonese, chiefly university slang) to pass

    勁過／劲过 [Cantonese]  ―  ging³ gwo³   ―  to superpass

    過三爆四／过三爆四 [Cantonese]  ―  gwo³ saam¹ baau³ sei³   ―  to achieve a GPA of 3 or above

17. (literary) to pay a visit; to visit; to call on
18. (euphemistic) to die; to pass away
19. (Cantonese, dated) used to indicates the target or recipient of an action: to

    畀件衫過我。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    畀件衫过我。 [Cantonese, simp.]

    bei² gin⁶ saam¹ gwo³ ngo⁵.

    Give me the shirt.

    • 1894, J. Dyer Ball, Readings in Cantonese Colloquial, page 18:

      天使講完、個啲女人、心好歡喜、卽時走去話過門徒知。 [Cantonese, trad.]
      天使讲完、个啲女人、心好欢喜、即时走去话过门徒知。 [Cantonese, simp.]

      tin¹ si³ gong² jyun⁴, go³ di¹ neoi⁵ jan^4-2, sam¹ hou² fun¹ hei², zik¹ si⁴ zau² heoi³ waa⁶ gwo³ mun⁴ tou⁴ zi¹.

      he women were very glad indeed they ran as quickly as they could to tell the disciples.

    • 1907, 《舊新約全書·廣東話》, 詩篇 59:17:

      你係我之力量、我要歌頌你、因上帝係我圍牆、施恩過我 [Cantonese, trad.]
      你系我之力量、我要歌颂你、因上帝系我围墙、施恩过我 [Cantonese, simp.]

      nei⁵ hai⁶ ngo⁵ zi¹ lik⁶ loeng⁶, ngo⁵ jiu³ go¹ zung⁶ nei⁵, jan¹ soeng⁶ dai³ hai⁶ ngo⁵ wai⁴ coeng⁴, si¹ jan¹ gwo³ ngo⁵

      Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy .

20. (Cantonese) This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

    佢有幾靚仔啊？睇過！？ [Cantonese, trad.]
    佢有几靓仔啊？睇过！？ [Cantonese, simp.]

    keoi⁵ jau⁵ gei² leng³ zai² aa¹? tai² gwo³!?

    How handsome can he be? Let me have a look!?

21. Classifier for occurrences: time

• (to pay a visit):

• The past experience particle 過 is negated with 沒／没 (méi), which is placed before the verb.

  我沒去過中國。／我没去过中国。  ―  Wǒ méi qù guò Zhōngguó.  ―  I have not been to China.

  • In Cantonese, 未 (mei6) is used instead of 沒／没.

Others:

• → Proto-Hmong-Mien: *KʷajH (“to cross”)
  • White Hmong: dhau
• → Proto-Tai: *kwaːᴮ (“to cross over”)
  • Lao: ກວ່າ (kuā, “than; more than”)
  • Shan: ၵႂႃႇ (kwàa, “go; work, run (as an engine)”)
  • Thai: กว่า (gwàa, “than; more than; over; go; overflow; pass”)