过去

Put it after a verb to show direction. For example, 走过去 means 'walk over.' You can also use it alone as a command. If your friend is waving from across the street, you tell your group, 'Let's go over.' It usually implies a short distance. You wouldn't use it for a flight to Paris. Use it for crossing a room or a street. It’s the bread and butter of physical movement.

Use it when you see someone you know at a party. Use it when a colleague calls you to their desk. It’s perfect for texting a friend to say you are on your way to their table. In a restaurant, you might use it to tell a waiter you'll go over to the counter. It feels active and intentional. It’s the verbal equivalent of a purposeful stride.

Don't use it if the movement is toward the speaker. If someone is coming to you, use 过来 instead. Mixing these up is the classic 'rookie' mistake. Also, avoid using it for long-term life goals. It’s about physical space, not necessarily 'going over' your life plans. Don't use it if you are already at the destination. You have to be 'here' looking 'there.'

Chinese direction words are very logical. They always care about where the speaker is standing. 过去 is part of a system that treats the speaker as the center of the universe. In crowded Chinese cities, you’ll hear this constantly. People use it to navigate through busy markets or subway stations. It’s a polite way to signal movement through a crowd. It shows you have a clear destination in mind.

走过去 is the most common (walk over). 跑过去 is used if you are in a rush (run over). 开过去 works if you are driving a car (drive over). If you want to be extra polite, add a 'please' like 请过去一下. You might also hear 看过去, which means to look over in a certain direction. Each variation just adds a 'how' to the 'going over.'