過ごす

• Reading: すごす
• Romaji: sugosu
• Kanji breakdown: 過 (ka/su/ayo) — pass, exceed, spend time
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.ɡo.sɯ/

Meaning

To spend (time); to pass; to lead (a life). Describes how one uses or experiences a period of time.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugating with the す row. Used for describing how time is spent: 休日を過ごす (spend a holiday), 時間を過ごす (spend time), 楽しく過ごす (have a good time). A staple in conversation about holidays, weekends, and daily routines.

Examples

1. 家族と楽しい休日を過ごしました。 I spent a fun holiday with my family.
2. 夏休みをどう過ごす予定ですか。 How do you plan to spend your summer vacation?
3. 静かな場所でのんびり時間を過ごしたい。 I want to relax and spend time in a quiet place.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, holidays, conversation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 過 (ka/su/ayo) meaning to pass and to exceed. Originally meant to go past or beyond, later specialised to mean spending or passing time.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal