过去 (guò qù) primarily means 'the past' as a noun — referring to time that has already occurred, such as events, experiences, or eras before now. As a verb, it means 'to pass by' or 'to elapse', often describing the movement of time or physical passage (e.g., a vehicle going by). The character 过 (guò) conveys the idea of crossing, passing, or experiencing, while 去 (qù) adds directionality or completion — together they emphasize temporal or spatial transition away from the present.

This word is frequently used in both formal and informal contexts: in historical discussions ('in the past'), personal reflection ('my childhood past'), or daily observations ('the bus just went past'). It’s also common in fixed phrases like 过去式 (past tense) and 从前 (formerly), and appears in time-related adverbial phrases like 一年前，过去几年里. Unlike the verb 过 (guo) used in experiential aspect, 过去 functions as a standalone lexical unit with its own grammatical behavior.