Meaning of 过度
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- excessive
- over-
- excess
- going too far
- extravagant
- intemperate
- overdue
How to use 过度
过度 usually comes before a verb or noun to describe doing something too much, often in health, work, or spending contexts. It sounds a bit formal and is common in news and advice. Example: 他工作过度，身体累坏了。(Tā gōngzuò guòdù, shēntǐ lèi huài le.) He overworked and wore himself out.
过 (guò) means to pass or go beyond, and 度 (dù) means a degree or limit. Put together, 过度 is going past the proper limit, like a thermometer reading that has passed the safe degree.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 过度 (guòdù, excessive) with 过渡 (guòdù, transition). They sound exactly the same, but 过渡 uses 渡 with the water radical and means crossing from one stage to another, as in 过渡期 (guòdùqī, transition period).
过度 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
过 guò · to cross · 6 strokes
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- 3
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度 dù · to pass · 9 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 过度.
| 不过 | bùguò | only; merely |
| 过来 | guòlái | to come over; to manage |
| 过去 | guòqù | (in the) past; former; previous; to go over; to pass by |
| 通过 | tōngguò | to pass through; to get through; to adopt (a resolution); to pass (legislation) |
| 经过 | jīngguò | to pass; to go through |
| 超过 | chāoguò | to surpass; to exceed |
| 难过 | nánguò | to feel sad; to feel unwell |
| 见过 | jiànguo | |
| 态度 | tàidù | manner; bearing |
| 角度 | jiǎodù | angle; (fig.) point of view |
| 温度 | wēndù | temperature |
| 走过 | zǒuguò | to walk past; to pass by |
Questions about 过度
What does 过度 mean?
过度 (guòdù) means "excessive; over-" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 过度?
过度 is made of 2 characters: 过 (6 strokes), 度 (9 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 过度 an HSK word?
Yes. 过度 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 过度 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 过度 is written 過度.
What is the difference between 过度 and 太 (tài)?
太 is an everyday adverb meaning too, as in 太累了 (tài lèi le, too tired). 过度 is more formal and describes going beyond a proper limit, often in set phrases like 过度疲劳 (guòdù píláo, overexhaustion).
What are some common phrases with 过度?
Common ones include 过度使用 (guòdù shǐyòng, overuse), 过度紧张 (guòdù jǐnzhāng, overly nervous), and 过度消费 (guòdù xiāofèi, overspending). In these phrases 过度 works much like the English prefix over-.