<p>First of all, <code>过</code>, by itself, mainly has two meanings:</p>

<ol>
<li>to pass (as a verb), e.g.: 过江(to pass a river)</li>
<li>mistake (as a noun), e.g.: 大过(a serious mistake)</li>
</ol>

<p>I guess in this question you are more interested in the first one and will share my two cents on that.</p>

<p>I can see two dimensions for classifying the <code>*过</code> words of the sort that you mentioned:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>How <code>to pass</code> what is to be passed</p>

<p>It depends on the meaning of the <code>*</code>:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>through it: 通过, 穿过, 透过 etc.</p></li>
<li><p>outside of it and without (or at least not emphasizing) touching it: 经过, 越过, 超过 etc.</p></li>
<li><p>outside of it and touching (or making one feel that it almost touched) it: 扫过, 擦过, 拂过 etc.</p></li>
</ol></li>
<li><p>How abstractable the word is</p>

<p>(Let's ignore literary innovations for this case) </p>

<ol>
<li><p>the great majority of the words are mostly restricted to their  space-related literal meaning: 穿过, 越过, 超过, 扫过, 擦过, 拂过 etc.</p></li>
<li><p>a few of them can be extended to the time dimension (to <code>pass</code> a period or an event): 经过, 度过 (note: in modern Chinese, <code>度过</code> can only mean <code>to pass a period or an event</code>, its space-related counterpart is <code>渡过</code>)</p></li>
<li><p>some other few of them can be abstracted to mean <code>by means of</code>: 通过, or <code>to look through something (to observe)</code>: 透过 as in <code>透过现象看本质</code> (to look through the phenomena to observe the essence)</p></li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>After finishing writing the stuff above it suddenly occurred to me that there's another usage of <code>过</code> that's also relevant:</p>

<p>adj. + <code>过</code>: to be more adj. than</p>

<p>e.g.: 好过 (to be better than), 热过 (to be hotter than), etc.</p>

<p>You may deem them as being abstracted by nature.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-06T04:54:57.187Z
2014-10-06T04:54:57.187Z
null
<p>2 alternatives in an abstract sense: iciba： 以（介）：例句：他～自学完成了大学全部课程，</p>

<p>征求（动）：（有关的人或组织的同意或核准）：这问题要～群众，才能做出决定。</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T07:22:04.543Z
2014-09-22T08:52:22.880Z
2014-09-22T08:52:22.880Z
user6065
<h2>Original Question</h2>

<p>Although 通过 is the goto expression for passage through or across a space in informal, spoken Mandarin, there are specific alternatives used in more formal, spoken Mandarin as well as in writing.  <strike>This question serves to provide the community with a comprehensive list.</strike>  <strong>EDIT:</strong> <em>As "comprehensive list" questions are frowned upon on the StackExchange network, this question's purpose shall be to illustrate the classes of ＊过 verbs.</em></p>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>通过 to go through something in a general or abstract sense<br/>
经过 to go past something; <strong>EDIT:</strong> <em>or to pass something</em><br/>
透过 through, via, or by way of something<br/>
穿过 to go through a structure such as a tunnel or hallway<br/>
<em>Consider the sense of piercing or penetration that comes from</em> 穿</p>

<p><strike>What additional situation-specific alternatives to 通过 exist?</strike>
<strong>EDIT:</strong> <em>What classes of ＊过 verbs exist?</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T09:14:47.083Z
通过 is absolutely formal.Both of these have specific  contexts.There are lots of words can be used  with 过 to express "through something".like 闪过，盖过，突过，铺过，折过。
sfy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-22T11:37:47.647Z
经过 to go ***pass** something
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-23T00:21:05.670Z
@PeteC. OP is correct, it should be "to go past something" (you can check out http://english.stackexchange.com/a/51341) but it is "to pass something" here's something to confuse everyone: I went past my friend's store today. I passed (by) my friend's store today. Did you go past my friend's store too?
Ming
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-23T14:02:03.600Z
@Ming OK my bad :)
Pete C.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-24T01:51:57.550Z
@PeteC. no worries, native English speakers get that mixed up too, it's a common problem :) Notice when 'past' is used, it has a verb before it (went, go) but with 'pass/passed', it is being used as a verb itself. Hope that helps :)
Ming
<word-choice><difference><preposition>
Differences Between Classes of ＊过 Verbs ( 通过, 经过, 透过, 穿过, etc. )
# Differences Between Classes of ＊过 Verbs ( 通过, 经过, 透过, 穿过, etc. )

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-22)

## Original Question

Although 通过 is the goto expression for passage through or across a space in informal, spoken Mandarin, there are specific alternatives used in more formal, spoken Mandarin as well as in writing. This question serves to provide the community with a comprehensive list. **EDIT:** *As "comprehensive list" questions are frowned upon on the StackExchange network, this question's purpose shall be to illustrate the classes of ＊过 verbs.*

### Examples

通过 to go through something in a general or abstract sense  
经过 to go past something; **EDIT:** *or to pass something*  
透过 through, via, or by way of something  
穿过 to go through a structure such as a tunnel or hallway  
*Consider the sense of piercing or penetration that comes from* 穿

What additional situation-specific alternatives to 通过 exist?
**EDIT:** *What classes of ＊过 verbs exist?*

**Tags:** word-choice, difference, preposition

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 通过 is absolutely formal.Both of these have specific  contexts.There are lots of words can be used  with 过 to express "through something".like 闪过，盖过，突过，铺过，折过。  
> **username_2**: 经过 to go ***pass** something  
> **username_3**: @PeteC. OP is correct, it should be "to go past something" (you can check out http://english.stackexchange.com/a/51341) but it is "to pass something" here's something to confuse everyone: I went past my friend's store today. I passed (by) my friend's store today. Did you go past my friend's store too?  
> **username_2**: @username_3 OK my bad :)  
> **username_3**: @PeteC. no worries, native English speakers get that mixed up too, it's a common problem :) Notice when 'past' is used, it has a verb before it (went, go) but with 'pass/passed', it is being used as a verb itself. Hope that helps :)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-10-06. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

First of all, `过`, by itself, mainly has two meanings:

1. to pass (as a verb), e.g.: 过江(to pass a river)
2. mistake (as a noun), e.g.: 大过(a serious mistake)

I guess in this question you are more interested in the first one and will share my two cents on that.

I can see two dimensions for classifying the `*过` words of the sort that you mentioned:

* How `to pass` what is to be passed

  It depends on the meaning of the `*`:

  1. through it: 通过, 穿过, 透过 etc.
  2. outside of it and without (or at least not emphasizing) touching it: 经过, 越过, 超过 etc.
  3. outside of it and touching (or making one feel that it almost touched) it: 扫过, 擦过, 拂过 etc.
* How abstractable the word is

  (Let's ignore literary innovations for this case)

  1. the great majority of the words are mostly restricted to their space-related literal meaning: 穿过, 越过, 超过, 扫过, 擦过, 拂过 etc.
  2. a few of them can be extended to the time dimension (to `pass` a period or an event): 经过, 度过 (note: in modern Chinese, `度过` can only mean `to pass a period or an event`, its space-related counterpart is `渡过`)
  3. some other few of them can be abstracted to mean `by means of`: 通过, or `to look through something (to observe)`: 透过 as in `透过现象看本质` (to look through the phenomena to observe the essence)

After finishing writing the stuff above it suddenly occurred to me that there's another usage of `过` that's also relevant:

adj. + `过`: to be more adj. than

e.g.: 好过 (to be better than), 热过 (to be hotter than), etc.

You may deem them as being abstracted by nature.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-22. Score: 1

2 alternatives in an abstract sense: iciba： 以（介）：例句：他～自学完成了大学全部课程，

征求（动）：（有关的人或组织的同意或核准）：这问题要～群众，才能做出决定。


---

