过去

• Pinyin: guò qù
• Hanzi breakdown: 过 = 辶 (walk) + 寸 (inch) — to pass; 去 = 土 (earth) + 厶 (private) — to go away

Meaning

To go over; the past. As a verb, means to move away from the speaker; as a noun, refers to a previous time.

Has two main uses: (1) as a directional complement meaning to move away from the speaker (opposite of 过来); (2) as a time noun meaning 'in the past.' Context determines the meaning.

Examples

1. 你走过去看看吧。 Go over there and take a look.
2. 过去的事情不要再想了。 Don't dwell on things from the past.
3. 那辆车刚过去了。 That car just went past.

Usage Guide

Context: movement, time reference, narration

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 过去的事就别想了。(Don't think about what's past.)
• 他已经走过去了。(He has already walked over there.)

Don't Say

• 不要把过去(时间)和过去(方向)的重音搞混 — as a time noun 过去 stresses the first syllable; as a directional verb the stress falls on 去.

Origin & History

Compound of 过 (to pass) and 去 (to go), meaning 'to pass and go away' — either physically or in time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal