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HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 6 min read

过 for Experience

Talk about places visited, foods tried, and things done at least once.

Pattern

Verb + 过

Use 过 to say someone has had an experience before.

你去过北京吗？

When to use 过 for Experience

过 marks experience, not a specific completed event. It says the action is part of someone’s life experience.

我吃过这个菜。

I have tried this dish before.

我从来没去过上海。

I have never been to Shanghai.

她学过中文。

She has studied Chinese before.

我没看过这个电影。

I have not seen this movie before.

Common traps

  • 过 is about experience, not exact time.
  • Negate experience with 没...过.
  • Do not stack 了 and 过 unless there is a special reason.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

去年我去 北京三次

I have been to Beijing three times, all last year. Mark the experience
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter