過
overdo · exceed · go beyond · error
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of advance and phonetic. Passing by.
Symbolism
Past, excess, passage. Represents exceeding.
Component Breakdown
walk + 咼
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
過小評価
かしょうひょうか
underestimation; undervaluation
過大評価
かだいひょうか
overestimation; overrating; overvaluing
過剰防衛
かじょうぼうえい
excessive or unjustifiable self-defense (defence)
過当競争
かとうきょうそう
excessive competition
台風一過
たいふういっか
clear weather after a typhoon has passed
雲煙過眼
うんえんかがん
not being obsessed with something very long (just as clouds and haze pass swiftly before one's eyes)
改過自新
かいかじしん
changing one's attitude or conduct and making a new start; turning over a new leaf
Proverbs & Idioms
過ぎたるは猶及ばざるが如し
すぎたるはなおおよばざるがごとし
Too much is as bad as too little
Excess is as harmful as deficiency
Poetry
難波潟 みじかき葦の ふしの間も あはでこの世を 過ぐしてよとや
Short as the space between joints of reeds in Naniwa marsh — must I pass this whole life without even that much of you?
Anime & Manga
僕の彼女がマジメ過ぎる処女ビッチな件
My Girlfriend is Shobitch
A well-known work with 過 in its Japanese title.
劇場版 境界の彼方 I'LL BE HERE 過去篇
Beyond the Boundary -I'LL BE HERE-: Past
A well-known work with 過 in its Japanese title.
神様はじめました ～過去編～
Kamisama Kiss◎ OVA
A well-known work with 過 in its Japanese title.
平兵士は過去を夢見る
Ordinary Soldier Dreams of the Past
A well-known work with 過 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“exceed”
“error”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 過 mean in Japanese?
過 means overdo, exceed, go beyond, error.
How do you read 過?
On'yomi: カ (KA). Kun'yomi: す.ぎる、す.ごす、あやま.ち、あやま.つ、よぎ.る、よ.ぎる (sugiru, sugosu, ayamachi, ayamatsu, yogiru, yogiru).
How many strokes does 過 have?
過 has 12 strokes. Its radical is 辶 (walk).
Is 過 a good kanji for a tattoo?
過 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means overdo, exceed, go beyond, error. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.