과거

Korean

Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 過去, from 過 (“passing”) + 去 (“going”)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈkwa̠(ː)ɡʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [과(ː)거]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gwageo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gwageo
McCune–Reischauer?	kwagŏ
Yale Romanization?	kwāke

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 과거의 / 과거에 / 과거까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the second syllable, and also heightens the subsequent suffixed syllable.

Noun

과거 • (gwageo) (hanja 過去)

1. the past
2. one's past
3. (grammar) past tense

Synonyms

• 지난날 (jinannal)

Derived terms

• 과거 분사 (過去分詞, gwageo bunsa)
• 과거 생생 (過去生生, gwageo saengsaeng)
• 과거 완료 (過去完了, gwageo wallyo)
• 과거 지향 (過去指向, gwageo jihyang)
• 과거 진행 (過去進行, gwageo jinhaeng)
• 과거로 (過去路, gwageoro)
• 과거사 (過去事, gwageosa)
• 과거사 (過去詞, gwageosa)
• 과거세 (過去世, gwageose)
• 과거장 (過去帳, gwageojang)
• 과거지사 (過去之事, gwageojisa)
• 과거형 (過去形, gwageohyeong)

 

Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 科擧. The "measles" sense comes from a euphemistic reference to the civil service examination as an ordeal as difficult as measles.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [kwa̠ɡʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [과거]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gwageo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gwageo
McCune–Reischauer?	kwagŏ
Yale Romanization?	kwake

• South Gyeongsang (Busan) pitch accent: 과거의 / 과거에 / 과거까지

  Syllables in red take high pitch. This word always takes high pitch only on the first syllable, and lowers the pitch of subsequent suffixes.

Noun

과거 • (gwageo) (hanja 科擧)

1. (historical) civil service examination (to select officials in dynastic China, Korea, and Vietnam)
2. (Gyeongsang, euphemistic) measles

   Synonym: 홍역(紅疫) (hong'yeok)

Derived terms

• 과거 제도 (科擧制度, gwageo jedo)
• 과거지보 (科擧之寶, gwageojibo)

 

Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 寡居

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈkwa̠(ː)ɡʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [과(ː)거]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gwageo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gwageo
McCune–Reischauer?	kwagŏ
Yale Romanization?	kwāke

Noun

과거 • (gwageo) (hanja 寡居)

1. living on one's own as a widow

Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 過擧

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ˈkwa̠(ː)ɡʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [과(ː)거]
  • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gwageo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gwageo
McCune–Reischauer?	kwagŏ
Yale Romanization?	kwāke

Noun

과거 • (gwageo) (hanja 過擧)

1. excessive behaviour