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越过 (yuè guò) — to cross over (physically, e.g. a mountain, river); to overcome (difficulties, obstacles); to transcend (limits, time, space)

Definition

越过 spans both physical crossing (a river, mountain) and figurative surpassing (limits, time). Unlike 超越, which is abstract/figurative, 越过 keeps the sense of moving past a concrete barrier or threshold.

verb
to cross over (physically, e.g. a mountain, river)to overcome (difficulties, obstacles)to transcend (limits, time, space)

Examples

  • 越过，。
    Tā men yuè guò le nà tiáo dà hé, dào dá le duì àn.
    They crossed that big river and reached the opposite bank.
  • 越过，。
    Tā yuè guò le nèi xīn de kǒng jù, zhōng yú zhàn shàng le wǔ tái.
    She overcame her inner fear and finally stepped onto the stage.
  • 越过，。
    Zhè bù zuò pǐn yuè guò le shí dài, zhì jīn réng yǒu yǐng xiǎng lì.
    This work transcends its era and still has influence today.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

越yuècross
过guòpass beyond

越 means to cross, and 过 adds the sense of passing beyond, so it means to cross over.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
走走zǒuto walk or run
Sound part声符shēngfú
戉
戉yuè越yuè
Same sound today

越 is built from 走 (to walk or run) and 戉 (which supplies the sound); the 走 part shows the idea of going over or crossing.

Open 越 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 過; 过 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
咼
咼wāi過guò
Same sound today

The traditional form 過 pairs 辵 (walk) with 咼 as a sound component; the simplified 过 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 过 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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