Meaning
过 is an extremely versatile and high-frequency character in Mandarin. As a main verb, it means to pass, cross, or go through something. More commonly, it functions as a grammatical particle placed after verbs to indicate past experience ("have done"). It can also serve as a complement meaning "excessively" or "too much."
Usage
When used as the experiential 过, it appears directly after the verb to show you've had the experience of doing that action at some unspecified time in the past (e.g., 我去过中国 "I have been to China"). As a complement after adjectives or verbs, it indicates excess (e.g., 太贵过了 is nonstandard, but 太贵了 or 贵过头了 work). Native speakers use 过 constantly in everyday speech.
Examples
- 01你去过北京吗？?Have you been to Beijing?
- 02我们在中国过了一个很愉快的春节。.We spent a very happy Spring Festival in China.
Common collocations
- 过生日to celebrate a birthday
- 过节to celebrate a festival
- 吃过have eaten
- 看过have seen/watched
Origin
The traditional form 過 shows the 辵 (walking) radical, indicating movement or passing through. The character has evolved to express both physical crossing and abstract temporal passage.