路过

• Pinyin: lù guò
• Hanzi breakdown: 路 = 足 (foot) + 各 (each), road; 过 = 辶 (walk) + 寸, to pass

Meaning

To pass by; to go past. Passing through a place without stopping as a destination.

Used when somewhere is not your destination but on your route. Common expressions: 路过的人 (passers-by), 顺路路过 (passing by on the way). Internet slang: 路过打酱油 (just passing through, not getting involved). Can imply incidental presence.

Examples

1. 我只是路过这里，顺便进来看看有什么新书。 I was just passing by here and stopped in to see what new books there are.
2. 他是路过的司机，看到事故后主动停下来帮忙。 He was a driver passing by who voluntarily stopped to help when he saw the accident.
3. 出差路过老家，抽空回去看了看父母。 While passing through my hometown on a business trip, I made time to go back and see my parents.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, incidental, casual

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 我路过时顺便买的。(I bought it while passing by.)
• 路过的时候进来坐坐吧。(Stop in for a bit when you're passing by.)

Don't Say

• 把路过和经过完全等同 (路过 implies not stopping; 经过 can include passing through as part of a journey)

Origin & History

Compound of 路 (road) + 过 (pass). To pass along a road without stopping.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal