超过

• Pinyin: chāo guò
• Hanzi breakdown: 超 = 走 (walk) + 召 (summon, phonetic); 过 = 辶 (movement) + 寸 (inch)

Meaning

To exceed; to surpass. Used to indicate going beyond a certain number, level, or standard.

Commonly used with quantities, time, speed, or abstract measures to express exceeding a limit or standard. Can describe surpassing someone in ability, score, or rank.

Examples

1. 这个城市的人口已经超过了一千万。 The population of this city has already exceeded ten million.
2. 他的考试成绩超过了大部分同学。 His exam results surpassed most of his classmates.
3. 今天的气温超过了三十五度。 Today's temperature exceeded thirty-five degrees.

Usage Guide

Context: comparison, measurement, competition

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他的身高已经超过了一米八。(His height has already exceeded 1.8 metres.)
• 今年的销售额超过了去年。(This year's sales exceeded last year's.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'我超过喜欢他' — 超过 means to surpass or exceed, not to express degree of liking. Use 非常 or 很 instead.

Origin & History

Compound of 超 (to surpass, go beyond) and 过 (to pass, to cross). Together they emphasize the action of going past a limit.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal