guòqù: 过去 - The Past, To Go Over

• Keywords: guoqu, guo qu, guòqù, 过去, Chinese for past, how to say past in Chinese, guoqu meaning, go over in Chinese, pass by in Chinese, Chinese grammar past tense, Chinese time words
• Summary: A fundamental and versatile word, “过去” (guòqù) is essential for any beginner learning Mandarin Chinese. It serves as a noun meaning “the past,” referring to everything from personal memories to grand history. It also functions as a verb or directional complement, meaning “to go over” or “to pass by.” Understanding how to use guòqù is key to discussing time, describing movement, and sharing stories in Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guòqù
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb (Directional Complement)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: The past; to go over; to pass by.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, `过去` is about things that have “passed and gone.” As a noun, it's the entire concept of the past. Think of it as a container for all your memories and historical events. As a verb, it describes an action moving away from you and over to another place (`走过去` - walk over there) or simply time itself passing by (`时间过去了`).

• 过 (guò): This character means to pass, to cross, or to go through. Imagine crossing a river or a milestone. It also carries the idea of an experience, which is why it's used in the “experiential aspect” particle `过` (e.g., `我去过中国` - I have been to China).
• 去 (qù): This character simply means to go, indicating movement away from the speaker.

When combined, `过 (guò)` + `去 (qù)` creates a powerful and intuitive image: “to pass and go away.” This perfectly captures the meaning of something becoming part of “the past” or the action of physically “going over” to a location away from you.

While “the past” is a universal concept, the Chinese phrase `过去` is often tied to a deep cultural emphasis on history and continuity. There is a strong belief in learning from the `过去` to guide the present and future, encapsulated in the idiom `以史为鉴 (yǐ shǐ wéi jiàn)`, which means “to use history as a mirror.” In contrast to some Western tendencies to “not dwell on the past” or to prioritize a clean slate, traditional Chinese culture often views a person's `过去`—their family history, their past deeds, their experiences—as an integral and defining part of their identity. Forgetting the `过去`, whether personal or national, can be seen as a form of irresponsibility. This doesn't mean being trapped by it, but rather respecting it as a source of wisdom, lessons, and roots. When someone talks about their `过去`, they are often sharing a core part of who they are.

`过去` is an everyday word used in multiple contexts.

This is its most common usage. It refers to any time before the present moment.

• Talking about memories: “In the past, things were different.”
• Discussing history: “China's past is very long.”
• Connotation: It's generally neutral, but can become nostalgic (“the good old days”) or regretful (“let's forget the past”) depending on the context.

Here, `过去` is attached to another verb to show the direction of an action—away from the speaker.

• Physical Movement: `你走过去吧` (Nǐ zǒu guòqù ba) - “You should walk over there.”
• Time Passing: `一个小时过去了` (Yī gè xiǎoshí guòqù le) - “An hour has passed.”
• Losing Consciousness (Colloquial): A very common and practical use is in `晕过去 (yūn guòqù)` which means “to faint” or “to pass out.”

Example 1:

• 过去的事就让它过去吧。
• Pinyin: Guòqù de shì jiù ràng tā guòqù ba.
• English: Let the things of the past just pass. (Let bygones be bygones.)
• Analysis: A classic example showing both uses in one sentence. The first `过去` is a noun (“the past”), and the second is a verb (“to pass”). It's a common phrase for moving on.

Example 2:

• 在过去，这里是一个小渔村。
• Pinyin: Zài guòqù, zhèlǐ shì yī gè xiǎo yúcūn.
• English: In the past, this place was a small fishing village.
• Analysis: Here, `在过去` acts as a time phrase, setting the scene for a historical description. This is a very common sentence structure.

Example 3:

• 你帮我把这个箱子搬过去好吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ bāng wǒ bǎ zhège xiāngzi bān guòqù hǎo ma?
• English: Can you help me move this box over there?
• Analysis: `过去` is a directional complement for the verb `搬` (bān - to move). It clearly indicates the direction is away from the speaker.

Example 4:

• 时间过得真快，一年又过去了。
• Pinyin: Shíjiān guò de zhēn kuài, yī nián yòu guòqù le.
• English: Time flies so fast, another year has passed.
• Analysis: `过去` is used here to describe the abstract passage of time. The particle `了 (le)` emphasizes that this action is completed.

Example 5:

• 看到那辆红色的车了吗？它刚刚开过去。
• Pinyin: Kàn dào nà liàng hóngsè de chē le ma? Tā gānggāng kāi guòqù.
• English: Did you see that red car? It just drove past.
• Analysis: `开过去` (kāi guòqù) means “to drive past/over.” It describes movement across the speaker's field of vision.

Example 6:

• 他太累了，一躺下就睡过去了。
• Pinyin: Tā tài lèi le, yī tǎng xià jiù shuì guòqù le.
• English: He was so tired, he fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
• Analysis: This is a figurative use. `睡过去` (shuì guòqù) implies falling into a deep sleep, similar to “passing out” from exhaustion.

Example 7:

• 我们不应该忘记过去的教训。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen bù yīnggāi wàngjì guòqù de jiàoxùn.
• English: We shouldn't forget the lessons of the past.
• Analysis: This highlights the cultural significance of learning from `过去` (the past). `过去的` functions as an adjective here, modifying “lessons” (`教训`).

Example 8:

• 他太激动了，差点晕过去。
• Pinyin: Tā tài jīdòng le, chàdiǎn yūn guòqù.
• English: He was so excited, he almost fainted.
• Analysis: A perfect example of the common colloquial usage `晕过去` (yūn guòqù) for “to faint” or “to pass out.”

Example 9:

• 和过去相比，我们的生活好多了。
• Pinyin: Hé guòqù xiāng bǐ, wǒmen de shēnghuó hǎo duō le.
• English: Compared to the past, our lives are much better now.
• Analysis: `和过去相比` (hé guòqù xiāng bǐ) is a standard structure for making a comparison between the past and the present.

Example 10:

• 请你从我面前走过去，不要挡着我。
• Pinyin: Qǐng nǐ cóng wǒ miànqián zǒu guòqù, bùyào dǎng zhe wǒ.
• English: Please walk past me, don't block my way.
• Analysis: `走过去` (zǒu guòqù) here means “to walk past.” It's a direct and slightly impatient command.

• `过去` is NOT the Chinese “Past Tense”: This is the most critical mistake for beginners. English uses verb endings like “-ed” to show past tense. Chinese does not. `过去` is a noun (“the past”) or a directional verb (“to go over”). You cannot simply add `过去` to a verb to make it past tense.
  • Incorrect: 我吃饭过去。 (Wǒ chīfàn guòqù.)
  • Correct: 我吃过饭了。 (Wǒ chīguò fàn le.) - I have eaten.
  • Correct: 我吃了饭。 (Wǒ chīle fàn.) - I ate.
• `过去` (the past) vs. `以前` (yǐqián - before): These are similar but not always interchangeable.
  • `以前 (yǐqián)` is a time word, often placed at the beginning of a sentence to mean “before” or “previously.” It sets a temporal context. Example: `以前，我不喝咖啡。` (Yǐqián, wǒ bù hē kāfēi.) - “Before, I didn't drink coffee.”
  • `过去 (guòqù)` is a noun for “the past” as a whole concept. It's something you can talk about. Example: `他的过去很复杂。` (Tā de guòqù hěn fùzá.) - “His past is very complicated.” You wouldn't say `他的以前很复杂。`

• 过来 (guòlái) - To come over. The opposite directional complement, indicating movement towards the speaker.
• 以前 (yǐqián) - Before, previously. A time word used to set a scene in the past, often contrasted with the present.
• 从前 (cóngqián) - Once upon a time, in the old days. More literary and often used to start stories or fairy tales.
• 未来 (wèilái) - The future. The direct antonym of `过去` as a noun.
• 现在 (xiànzài) - Now, the present. Completes the trio of past, present, and future time nouns.
• 当时 (dāngshí) - At that time, then. Refers to a specific, particular moment in the past.
• 历史 (lìshǐ) - History. A more formal, academic, and large-scale term for the past.
• 回忆 (huíyì) - To recall; a memory. The mental act of visiting one's `过去`.
• 已经 (yǐjīng) - Already. An adverb often used with past actions to emphasize they have already occurred.
• 了 (le) - A grammatical particle indicating a completed action or a change of state. Crucial for discussing past events but distinct from `过去`.