Think of V + 過过 guò as “have ever done.” It’s about whether something is part of your experience, not about when exactly it happened.
1Structure
S + V + 過过 guò + O
我去過中國
我去过中国
I’ve been to China.
你看過這部電影嗎？
你看过这部电影吗？
Have you seen this movie before?
我見過他
我见过他
I’ve met him before.
我說過嗎？
我说过吗？
Have I said that before?
Topic + S + V + 過过 guò
In casual spoken Chinese, the topic often comes first, followed by the statement or question, like “This movie, have you seen it?” It isn’t formal, but it’s very common.
這部電影你看過嗎？
这部电影你看过吗？
Have you seen this movie before?
他我見過
他我见过
I’ve met him before.
臭豆腐他吃過
臭豆腐他吃过
He’s tried stinky tofu before.
他家我去過，很大很漂亮！
他家我去过，很大很漂亮！
I’ve been to his place. It’s big and beautiful!
2Negation
You’re talking about past experience, not a choice, so the negative is always 沒(有)没(有) méi(yǒu), never 不不 bù. 📚 不不 bù and 沒没 méi
我沒有學過中文
我没有学过中文
I’ve never studied Chinese.
他沒有吃過臭豆腐
他没有吃过臭豆腐
He’s never tried stinky tofu.
他我沒愛過
他我没爱过
Him? I’ve never loved him.
這話我沒說過
这话我没说过
I never said that.
從來沒(有)从来没(有) cónglái méi(yǒu) … V + 過过 guò: “never ever”
Add 從來从来 cónglái to emphasize that something has never happened.
我從來沒有學過中文
我从来没有学过中文
I’ve never studied Chinese, ever.
他從來沒想過要當中文老師
他从来没想过要当中文老师
He never once thought about becoming a Chinese teacher.
我從來沒有這麼累過
我从来没有这么累过
I’ve never been this tired before.
💡 FYI
Why can “tired” take 過过 guò? In Chinese, adjectives are stative verbs, a type of verb, so they can be followed by 過过 guò just like action verbs.
3了了₁ le vs. 過过 guò
📌 The difference
過过 guò = an experience that can be repeated (“have ever done”).
了了₁ le = a completed action, one occurrence at a specific time (“did”).
他去過很多國家
他去过很多国家
He’s been to many countries.
Experience, from the past up to now.
他去了很多國家
他去了很多国家
He went to many countries.
A completed action, e.g. on his last trip.
他吃過臭豆腐
他吃过臭豆腐
He’s tried stinky tofu.
He has the experience.
他吃了臭豆腐
他吃了臭豆腐
He ate stinky tofu.
A completed action, maybe yesterday.
他結過婚
他结过婚
He’s been married before.
過过 guò: he has had the experience of being married at least once.
他結了婚
他结了婚
He got married.
了了₁ le: the action of getting married is complete. It says nothing about earlier marriages or whether it’s still ongoing.
4了了₂ le + 過过 guò
了了₂ le marks a changed state. Combined with 過过 guò, it means “it’s now the case that this has already been done.” This is almost always used for frequent, everyday actions.
你吃飯了嗎？
你吃饭了吗？
Have you eaten?
A general question, with no reference to a specific time.
你吃過飯了嗎？
你吃过饭了吗？
Have you already eaten?
With 過过 guò, the focus is on whether the meal is already done, as it matters now.
我吃飯了
我吃饭了
I’ve eaten.
Simply states that I ate.
我吃過飯了
我吃过饭了
I’ve already eaten.
Stresses that it’s already done, e.g. answering “Are you hungry?”
5Common Mistakes
❌
他結婚過
他结婚过
✅
他結過婚
他结过婚
過过 guò goes right after the verb. With separable verbs like 結婚结婚 jiéhūn, it goes between the verb and the object.
❌
我不去過日本
我不去过日本
✅
我沒去過日本
我没去过日本
Experiences are negated with 沒没 méi, never 不不 bù.
6Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01I’ve never lived alone.
我沒一個人住過
我没一个人住过。
👆 Tap to reveal
02Have you ever thought about why he’s angry?
你想過他為什麼生氣嗎
你想过他为什么生气吗？
👆 Tap to reveal
03Has he ever looked in the mirror?
他照過鏡子嗎
他照过镜子吗？
👆 Tap to reveal
04Have you ever seen snow?
你看過雪嗎
你看过雪吗？
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05I’ve read this book before.
這本書我看過
这本书我看过。
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06He has never been late.
他從來沒遲到過
他从来没迟到过。
👆 Tap to reveal
07I’ve already showered.
我洗過澡了
我洗过澡了。
👆 Tap to reveal
08She’s never been to Japan.
她沒去過日本
她没去过日本。
👆 Tap to reveal
💬 Slang: 照過鏡子嗎照过镜子吗?
Practice 03 is actually a slang expression. It’s said in a confrontational or critical way to someone who’s being hypocritical or self-righteous: “Take a look at yourself before you criticize others.” It can also mean “mind your own business.” Another way to say it is 也不照照鏡子 yě bú zhàozhào jìngzi也不照照镜子 yě bú zhàozhao jìngzi.
