Back
Intermediate

Experiential 过

'Have ever done'

Verb + 过 = past experience

过 expresses having done something at some point.

💬 Examples
我去过中国。
Wǒ qùguo Zhōngguó.
I have been to China.
📝 过 = experience
你吃过北京烤鸭吗?
Nǐ chīguo Běijīng kǎoyā ma?
Have you (ever) eaten Peking duck?
📝 Asking about experience
Negate with 没...过

没 + verb + 过 = 'have never'.

💬 Examples
我没去过。
Wǒ méi qùguo.
I have never been.
📝 没...过 = never
我没看过这个电影。
Wǒ méi kànguo zhège diànyǐng.
I've never seen this movie.
📝 Never done
过 vs 了

过 = experience (repeatable); 了 = one specific completed event.

💬 Examples
我吃过日本菜。
Wǒ chīguo Rìběn cài.
I've eaten Japanese food (before).
📝 过 = at some time
我吃了日本菜。
Wǒ chīle Rìběn cài.
I ate Japanese food.
📝 了 = a specific occasion