Meaning of 过渡
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to cross over (by ferry)
- transition
- interim
- caretaker (administration)
How to use 过渡
In modern Chinese 过渡 is mostly used for a change from one stage to another, often as a modifier like 过渡期 (guòdùqī, transition period) or 过渡政府 (guòdù zhèngfǔ, caretaker government). Example: 这只是一个过渡阶段。(Zhè zhǐ shì yí gè guòdù jiēduàn.) This is just a transitional stage.
过 (guò) means to pass, and 渡 (dù) has the water radical 氵, meaning to cross water. Picture passing over a river by ferry to reach the other side, which is exactly what a transition is: moving from one state to the next.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 过渡 (guòdù) with 过度 (guòdù, excessive), which sounds exactly the same. If you mean too much, as in 过度疲劳 (overly tired), use 度 without the water radical. If you mean a transition, use 渡 with water.
过渡 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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渡 dù · to cross · 12 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 过渡.
| 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 | |
| 走过 | zǒuguò | to walk past; to pass by |
| 过年 | guònián | to celebrate the Chinese New Year |
| 过程 | guòchéng | course of events; process |
| 度过 | dùguò | to pass; to spend (time) |
Questions about 过渡
What does 过渡 mean?
过渡 (guòdù) means "to cross over (by ferry); transition" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 过渡?
过渡 is made of 2 characters: 过 (6 strokes), 渡 (12 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 过渡 an HSK word?
Yes. 过渡 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 过渡 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 过渡 is written 過渡.
How do I say 'to transition to' something with 过渡?
Use 过渡到 plus the new state, for example 从计划经济过渡到市场经济 (cóng jìhuà jīngjì guòdù dào shìchǎng jīngjì), to transition from a planned economy to a market economy.
Is 过渡 still used to mean crossing a river by ferry?
That literal sense exists but is rare and literary today. For actually crossing a river, people usually say 过河 (guò hé) or 坐渡船 (zuò dùchuán).