过去

guò qu

HSK 2.0 Level 3 Very common

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This word has multiple dictionary entries. Choose the reading or usage you want to review.

过去

guò qù Verb (in the) past; former

过去

guò qu (in the) past; former

Definitions

1. (in the) past
2. former
3. previous
4. to go over
5. to pass by

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 将来 jiāng lái 将来 jiāng lái in the future the future, opposite of the past, e.g., 将来我打算去中国 ('I plan to go to China in the future'): in the future

Related words

1 item

• 刚才 gāng cái 刚才 gāng cái just now just now, a recent past time, e.g., 我刚才看到他了 ('I just saw him a moment ago'): just now

Synonyms

2 items

• 以前 yǐ qián 以前 yǐ qián before referring to a time before now, e.g., 我以前住在这里 ('I lived here before'): before
• 经过 jīng guò 经过 jīng guò to pass to pass by or go through, for physical movement, e.g., 我经过那家商店 ('I passed by that store'): to pass

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 过去 (guòqu) 'in the past' with 过去 (guò//qù) 'to go over'. The former is a time word, the latter is a verb-complement phrase that can be split, e.g., 我过不去 (I can't get across).

Formality

In formal writing, 过去 as 'the past' is often paired with 与 (yǔ) instead of 和 (hé) in phrases like 与过去相比 (compared to the past).

Example Sentences

1 shown

过去 ，我常常去公园。

In the past, I often went to the park.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 过去

• 昏过去 昏过去 hūn guo qu: to faint
• 看不过去 看不过去 kàn bu guò qu: cannot stand by idly and watch
• 说不过去 说不过去 shuō bu guò qù: cannot be justified
• 说得过去 说得过去 shuō de guò qù: acceptable
• 过去分词 过去分词 guò qu fēn cí: past participle (in European grammar)
• 过去式 过去式 guò qu shì: past tense
• 过去时 过去时 guò qù shí: past tense (grammar)
• 过去经验 过去经验 guò qu jīng yàn: past experience

Child Words of 过去

• 去 去 qù: to go
• 过 过 guò: to cross
• 过 过 guo: (experienced action marker)