Definitions

guò (verb) to pass; to cross; to exceed
guò (verb) to pass (time); to spend time
guò (adjective,adverb) excessive; too (much)
guo (particle) (particle indicating completed action)

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. The component was simplified to .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 过 (guò) corresponds to the traditional form 過, a phono-semantic compound. The movement radical 辶 (chuò) on the left indicates an action related to walking or traversing, while the component 咼 (guō) on the right provides the phonetic element in the traditional form; in the simplified version, this is reduced to 寸 (cùn). Its core meaning is the physical act of passing by or crossing a boundary. This concept naturally extended to abstract senses, such as surpassing a limit, committing an error, or acting excessively. Additionally, 过 functions as an aspect particle placed after verbs to indicate an action has been experienced in the past.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他走马路。

Tā zǒu guò mǎlù.

He walked across the road.

我吃苹果。

Wǒ chī guò píngguǒ.

I have eaten apples.

她去北京。

Tā qù guò Běijīng.

She has been to Beijing.

这本书我看

Zhè běn shū wǒ kàn guò.

I have read this book.

我们讨论这个问题。

Wǒmen tǎolùn guò zhège wèntí.

We have discussed this issue.

他曾经经历战争。

Tā céngjīng jīnglì guò zhànzhēng.

He has experienced war before.

这个程需要仔细考虑。

Zhège guòchéng xūyào zǐxì kǎolǜ.

This process requires careful consideration.

于急躁往往会导致失败。

Guò yú jízào wǎngwǎng huì dǎozhì shībài.

Being too impatient often leads to failure.