Expressing "through" with "jingguo"

When 经过 (jīngguò) is used as a verb, it means "to pass by." 经过 can be also used as a preposition to describe what experiences or times one went "through."

Used as a Verb

As a verb, 经过 means "to pass by" or "to pass through." It's for saying things like, "I passed through downtown" or "I passed by the shop."

Examples

  • 我 每天 上班 都 经过 这里 。Wǒ měi tiān shàngbān dōu jīngguò zhèlǐ.I pass by this place every day on the way to work.
  • 我 坐 火车 回 老家 常常 经过 这个 城市 。Wǒ zuò huǒchē huí lǎojiā chángcháng jīngguò zhège chéngshì.I usually pass by this city when I take the train back to my hometown.
  • 经过 我 家 门口 的 时候 叫 我 一下 。jīngguò wǒ jiā ménkǒu de shíhou jiào wǒ yīxià.Call me when you pass by my door.
  • 经过 这个 咖啡店 的 时候 就 会 想到 他 。jīngguò zhège kāfēidiàn de shíhou jiù huì xiǎngdào tā.She thinks about him when she walks past this cafe.

Used as a Preposition

As a preposition, 经过 means something like "through" (or "after going through"), and is used to emphasize the process of an experience.

Structure

经过 + Event / Time ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 经过 自己 的 努力 ,她 考上 了 北京 大学 。Jīngguò zìjǐ de nǔlì, tā kǎoshàng le Běijīng Dàxué.Through her own hard work, she was admitted into Peking University.
  • 经过 两 个 月 的 准备 ,他 顺利 地 通过 了 这 次 面试 。Jīngguò liǎng gè yuè de zhǔnbèi, tā shùnlì de tōngguò le zhè cì miànshì.After two months of preparation, he successfully passed the job interview.
  • 经过 这 几 年 的 发展 ,这个 城市 发生 了 很 大 变化 。Jīngguò zhè jǐ nián de fāzhǎn, zhège chéngshì fāshēng le hěn dà biànhuà.After the last few years of development, this city has changed a lot.
  • 经过 一 个 星期 的 调查 ,警察 认为 他 没有 罪 。Jīngguò yī gè xīngqī de diàochá, jǐngchá rènwéi tā méiyǒu zuì.After one week of investigation, the police believe that he's not guilty.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books