How to use "过" (guò) in Chinese?

The particle "过" (guò) in Chinese is used to indicate past experiences or actions that have been completed at least once. It is used after a verb to show that someone has experienced something in the past, but it doesn’t specify when it happened. Here's how to use "过" with examples:

Usage of 过 (guò)

1. Indicating Past Experience

"过" is used to indicate that someone has done something before or had an experience.

Structure:

- Subject + Verb + 过 + Object

Examples:

1. 我去过中国。(Wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó.) — I have been to China.

2. 他看过那部电影。(Tā kàn guò nà bù diànyǐng.) — He has watched that movie.

3. 她吃过日本料理。(Tā chī guò Rìběn liàolǐ.) — She has eaten Japanese cuisine.

2. Asking About Past Experiences

You can use "过" in questions to ask if someone has ever done something.

Structure:

- Subject + Verb + 过 + Object + 吗？

- Verb + 过 + Object + 没有？

Examples:

1. 你去过法国吗？(Nǐ qù guò Fǎguó ma?) — Have you been to France?

2. 你看过这本书没有？(Nǐ kàn guò zhè běn shū méiyǒu?) — Have you read this book?

3. Emphasizing the Experience

Sometimes, "过" is used to emphasize that someone has already experienced something in the past.

Examples:

1. 我听过这个故事。(Wǒ tīng guò zhège gùshì.) — I have heard this story before.

2. 她学过汉语。(Tā xué guò Hànyǔ.) — She has studied Chinese before.

Using 过 with Time Expressions

While "过" itself doesn't specify when the experience happened, you can add time expressions to give more context.

Examples:

1. 我去年去过北京。(Wǒ qùnián qù guò Běijīng.) — I went to Beijing last year.

2. 她小时候学过钢琴。(Tā xiǎo shíhòu xué guò gāngqín.) — She learned piano when she was a child.

Comparison with 了 (le)

"过" should not be confused with "了" (le), which is another particle indicating completed actions. The main difference is that "了" often indicates a specific completed action, while "过" emphasizes the experience of having done something.

Examples:

- 我吃了早餐。(Wǒ chī le zǎocān.) — I ate breakfast. (specific action)

- 我吃过早餐。(Wǒ chī guò zǎocān.) — I have eaten breakfast before. (experience)

Summary

- 过 (guò): Used to indicate past experiences.

- 我去过日本。(Wǒ qù guò Rìběn.) — I have been to Japan.

- 你看过这部电影吗？(Nǐ kàn guò zhè bù diànyǐng ma?) — Have you seen this movie?

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