Chinese word

借过

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiè guò

Meaning

  • verbexcuse me

Example

不好意思，借过一下。bù hǎo yì si jiè guò yí xià

Excuse me, let me through for a moment.

Illustration for 借过 (excuse me)

More examples

下班高峰，人群中我说：借过一下。xià bān gāo fēng rén qún zhōng wǒ shuō jiè guò yí xià

During the after-work rush hour, I say "Excuse me for a moment" in the crowd.

Core concept

An everyday verbal signal that a blocked path needs a small opening so the speaker can pass.

Common phrases

  • 借过一下jiè guò yí xià

    excuse me for a moment

  • 借过一下，谢谢jiè guò yí xià xiè xiè

    excuse me for a moment and thank you

Similar words

让一让ràng yí ràng: A relaxed request for nearby people to move a little and make space to pass.
让开ràng kāi: A forceful request for someone to clear the way when the speaker needs to pass at once.
请让一下qǐng ràng yí xià: A courteous request for someone to move over a little so the speaker can pass.

Definition in Chinese

用于请人暂时让开以便自己通过的口语动词短语，语气通常礼貌简短，常在后面加"一下"。yòng yú qǐng rén zàn shí ràng kāi yǐ biàn zì jǐ tōng guò de kóu yǔ dòng cí duán yǔ yǔ qì tōng cháng lǐ mào jián duǎn cháng zài hòu miàn jiā yí xià

Word origin

借 (jiè, "borrow") marks temporary use and 过 (guò, "pass") marks movement beyond a point, so together they form a request to use a route briefly.

Usage tips

  • The common addition 一下 (yíxià, "briefly") makes the request sound lighter by presenting the action as small and momentary.

Other meanings

  • let me throughverb

Opposites

  • 挡路dǎng lùblock the wayverb
  • 阻塞zǔ sèblockverb

Word lists with this word