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过程 (guò chéng) — process, course of events

Definition

过程 (guòchéng) is a neutral noun for the 'process' or 'course of events' of something — the unfolding itself, not the steps. Contrast with 步骤 ('steps' you take to do something) and 手续 (formal procedures).

noun
processcourse of events
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 过程。
    Xué xí shì yí gè hěn cháng de guò chéng.
    Learning is a long process.
  • 过程。
    Zhè ge guò chéng xū yào nài xīn.
    This process requires patience.
  • 过程？
    Nǐ néng gào sù wǒ zhěng gè guò chéng ma?
    Can you tell me the whole process?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

过guòpass through
程chéngcourse; stretch

过 gives the idea of passing through, and 程 gives a stretch or course; together they form the sense of a course of events.

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.

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 →

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
禾禾hégrain
Sound part声符shēngfú
呈
呈chéng程chéng
Same sound today

程 is made from 禾 (grain) and 呈 (pronounced chéng); the evidence gives measurements.

Open 程 →
Appears in
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