過ごす

すごす
Alternative writings: 過す
JLPT:N3
Frequency:

1To spend time; to pass the time; to live or lead (a life) a certain way.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

週末は家でゆっくり過ごした。

I spent the weekend relaxing at home.

彼女は平和な日々を過ごしている。

She is leading a peaceful life.

留学中は忙しかったが、貴重な経験を過ごした。

I was busy while studying abroad, but I had a valuable time there.

どうぞ良い一日をお過ごしください。

Please have a good day.

時間を無駄に過ごさないように気をつけている。

I try not to waste my time.

2To overdo something, especially drinking too much alcohol — a somewhat old-fashioned or formal phrasing; modern casual speech usually uses 飲み過ぎる instead.

Group 1 VerbTransitive Verb

Examples

昨夜はつい過ごしてしまい、今朝は頭が痛い。

I ended up drinking too much last night, and this morning I have a headache.

接待の席で少し過ごしてしまったようです。

It seems I had a bit too much to drink at the business dinner.

3To take care of or support someone — a dated, literary usage rarely seen in modern Japanese.

Group 1 VerbTransitive VerbDated Term

Examples

長男である彼は、年老いた両親を過す務めを負っていた。

As the eldest son, he bore the duty of supporting his aging parents.

4A suffix attached to the -masu stem of a verb, forming compounds that mean 'to do something to excess' or 'to go beyond the intended time' (e.g., 寝過ごす).

SuffixGroup 1 Verb

Examples

うっかり寝過ごして始発に乗り遅れた。

I overslept and missed the first train.

彼は飲み過ごして終電を逃した。

He drank too much and missed the last train.

映画に夢中で降りる駅を寝過ごした。

I was so absorbed in the movie that I slept past my station.

5A suffix attached to the -masu stem indicating 'to let something go unattended' or 'to overlook without intervening' (e.g., 見過ごす = to overlook).

SuffixGroup 1 Verb

Examples

問題点を見過ごしてはならない。

You must not overlook the problems.

彼は部下のミスを見過ごすことが多い。

He often overlooks his subordinates' mistakes.

不正を見過ごすわけにはいかない。

We cannot ignore the wrongdoing.