The particle 過 guò过 guò talks about something you have or haven’t experienced at some point in the past: “I’ve been to China,” “Have you ever tried stinky tofu?” It always goes right after the verb.
一 Subject + Verb + 過过 + Object
Subject + Verb + 過过 + Object
Put 過 guò过 guò right after the verb to say you’ve done something before. To ask “Have you ever…?”, add 嗎 ma吗 ma at the end.
我去過过中國中国
I’ve been to China.
你看過过這这部電影电影嗎吗？
Have you seen this movie?
我見见過过他
I’ve met him before.
我說说過过嗎吗？
Have I said that before?
二 Topic First
Topic + Subject + Verb + 過过
In casual speech, the thing you’re talking about often moves to the front as the topic: “This movie, have you seen it?” It’s very common in everyday conversation.
這这部電影电影你看過过嗎吗？
Have you seen this movie?
他我見见過过
I’ve met him before.
臭豆腐臭豆腐他吃過过
He’s tried stinky tofu before.
他家我去過过，很大很漂亮漂亮！
I’ve been to his place. It’s big and beautiful!
三 Negation: 沒(有) + V + 過没(有) + V + 过
Subject + 沒(有)没(有) + Verb + 過过
To say you’ve never done something, use 沒(有) méi(yǒu)没(有) méi(yǒu). Experiences are about what has or hasn’t happened, so it’s always 沒 méi没 méi, never 不 bù. And unlike 了, 過 guò过 guòstays in the negative sentence.
他沒有没有吃過过臭豆腐臭豆腐
He’s never tried stinky tofu.
我沒有没有學学過过中文
I’ve never studied Chinese.
他我沒没愛爱過过
I’ve never loved him.
這这話话我沒没說说過过
I never said that.
Add 從來 cónglái从来 cónglái to make it stronger: “never ever.”
我從來从来沒有没有學学過过中文
I’ve never ever studied Chinese.
他從來从来沒没想過过要當当中文老師老师
He never once thought about becoming a Chinese teacher.
我從來从来沒有没有這麼这么累過过
I’ve never been this tired.
In Chinese, adjectives work like verbs (stative verbs), so 過 guò过 guò can follow 累 lèi.
📚 RelatedFor more on choosing between the two negatives, see 不 bù and 沒没 méi. To learn why adjectives can act like verbs, see Stative Verbs.
四 了 vs. 過过
過 guò过 guò is about an experience that could happen again. 了 is about one completed action at a specific time.
過过 · experience
他去過过很多國家国家
He’s been to many countries. (In his life so far.)
了 · one completed action
他去了很多國家国家
He went to many countries. (On his last trip.)
過过 · experience
他吃過过臭豆腐臭豆腐
He’s tried stinky tofu. (He knows what it’s like.)
了 · one completed action
他吃了臭豆腐臭豆腐
He ate stinky tofu. (Maybe yesterday.)
過过 · experience
他結结過过婚
He’s been married before. (He has had that experience at least once.)
了 · one completed action
他結结了婚
He got married. (It doesn’t say anything about the past.)
五過过 + 了: Already Done
When 過 guò过 guò and 了 (the change-of-situation 了 at the end) are used together, it means “already done,” often to explain why you don’t need to do it now. It’s mostly used for everyday things like eating or showering.
你吃飯吃饭了嗎吗？
Have you eaten?
A general question, often just a greeting.
你吃過过飯饭了嗎吗？
Have you already eaten?
Asking whether it’s already done, e.g., before inviting someone to eat.
我吃飯吃饭了
I’ve eaten.
我吃過过飯饭了
I’ve already eaten.
Perfect reply to “Are you hungry?” It explains that you’re not hungry because it’s already done.
六 Common Mistakes
❌ 他結婚结婚過过
✅ 他結结過过婚
過 guò过 guò goes right after the verb. 結婚 jiéhūn结婚 jiéhūn is a separable verb (verb + object), so 過 guò过 guò goes in the middle.
❌ 我去中國中国過过
✅ 我去過过中國中国
過 guò过 guò comes before the object, not after it.
❌ 我不吃過过臭豆腐臭豆腐
✅ 我沒没吃過过臭豆腐臭豆腐
Experiences are negated with 沒 méi没 méi, never 不 bù.
FYI: Slang你照過过鏡子镜子嗎吗？ literally means “Have you ever looked in a mirror?” It’s a sharp comeback for someone who criticizes others but should look at themselves first. A similar saying is 也不照照鏡子镜子.
七 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“I’ve been to Japan.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我去過过日本
過 guò过 guò right after the verb.
“Have you ever eaten stinky tofu?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你吃過过臭豆腐臭豆腐嗎吗？
The topic version, 臭豆腐臭豆腐你吃過过嗎吗？, is also correct.
Have you ever…? → V過过…嗎.
“I’ve never lived alone.”
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❌ Try Again
我沒没一個个人住過过
Never → 沒没…過过. The 不 bù tile is a trap.
“He’s never ever studied Chinese.”
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❌ Try Again
他從來从来沒没學学過过中文
從來 cónglái从来 cónglái makes it stronger.
“He’s been married before.”
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他結结過过婚
過 guò过 guò goes in the middle of the separable verb.
“Have you ever thought about why he’s angry?”
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你想過过他為什麼为什么生氣生气嗎吗？
The whole question “why he’s angry” is the object.
