Meet 過 in words for passing, the past and excess. Learn each reading with its whole word.
The idea
過 has 12 strokes; use the linked diagram for their order. 過ぎる（すぎる） means to pass or exceed, 過ごす（すごす） means to spend time, and 過去（かこ） means the past. After a verb stem, すぎる expresses excess: 食べ過ぎる means eat too much.
Examples
- 三時間が過ぎました。Three hours have passed.
- 週末を家族と過ごしました。I spent the weekend with my family.
- 昨日は食べ過ぎました。I ate too much yesterday.
- このかばんは重すぎます。This bag is too heavy.
- 過去の失敗から学びました。I learned from past mistakes.
- 電車が駅を通り過ぎました。The train passed the station.
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No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
過ぎる describes time passing without an agent; 過ごす takes the time spent as its object. After an adjective, omit the final い before すぎる: 重い becomes 重すぎる.
Try it yourself
過去 → ひらがな
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かこ
過去 is かこ: it refers to the past, as in learning from past mistakes.
過ごす → ひらがな
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すごす
過ごす is すごす: use it for spending a period of time, such as a weekend.
Choose the missing kanji: 食べ＿ぎる (eat too much) ［過／近］.
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過
過 completes 食べ過ぎる, たべすぎる: the verb stem 食べ plus 過ぎる means eating too much.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
過去 → ひらがな
過ごす → ひらがな
Choose the missing kanji: 食べ＿ぎる (eat too much) ［過／近］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 過 following the diagram. Cover the readings, then read 過去 and 過ごす and make a sentence with one.