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How to write 过 (guò, “to cross”)

过, an HSK 2 character, is read guò for “to cross” and “to go over”, and also guo (“experienced action marker”). It is HSK 2 in the 2025 syllabus, up from level 1 in the 2021 standard. The traditional form is 過, 12 strokes instead of 6. On its own it is an HSK 2 word; it also forms 过去 (“past”), 过年 (“to celebrate the Chinese New Year”) and 过来 (“to come over”). Japanese keeps the traditional 過, read ka (“overdo”).

Pinyin
guò, guo
Strokes
6
HSK
2
Radical
辶 (“walking”)
Traditional
過

Stroke by stroke

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6

As a bottom-left wrap character it splits into 辶 (“walking”, the radical), strokes 4–6; 寸 (“a unit of length”), strokes 1–3, written the inside first.

  1. toprightwards
  2. topdownwards → leftwards
  3. centerdown and right
  4. top leftdown and right
  5. leftrightwards → downwards
  6. bottom leftrightwards

Names of the strokes

Traditional form

Simplified
过 · 6 strokes
Traditional
過 · 12 strokes · see its strokes

Simplified vs traditional

Trace it

Follow the numbers. Tracing help

Pinyin and meaning

PinyinMeaningsTraditionalIn words
guò
fourth tone		to cross; to go over; to pass (time); to celebrate (a holiday); to live過过去 过年 过来 经过
guo
neutral tone		(experienced action marker)過—
HSK 2025 syllabus
level 2
2021 standard
level 1
HSK 2.0
in a level 3 word
Words with it
271 in CC-CEDICT

Words with 过

WordPinyinMeaning
过 過guòto cross; to go over HSK 2
过去 過去guòqùpast; former HSK 2
过年 過年guòniánto celebrate the Chinese New Year HSK 2
过来 過來guòláito come over; to manage HSK 2
经过 經過jīngguòto pass; to go through HSK 3
过节 過節guòjiéto celebrate a festival; after the celebrations HSK 3
难过 難過nánguòto feel sad; to feel unwell HSK 3
不过 不過búguòonly; merely HSK 4
超过 超過chāoguòto surpass; to exceed HSK 4
路过 路過lùguòto pass by; to pass through HSK 4

HSK words first (CC-CEDICT).

Practice sheet

Print at 100%. Several characters: worksheet maker.

Keep going

HSK 2, in list order: