How to say "pass" in Japanese

• 経つたつJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, intransitive verbThis is the verb for time itself passing: hours, days, or years elapsing. The time is the subject, so it suits sentences like 'three years have passed'.
  時ときがどんどんたってゆく。↗

  Time is going by very quickly.
• 経るへるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers the same 'time passes' sense as 経つ: to elapse, to go by. It is a natural choice when talking about years or long stretches of time having gone by.
• 過ごすすごすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThis is 'pass' in the sense of spending time: passing the time, a day, or a holiday, often with a word describing how — pleasantly, quietly, and so on. Not for time elapsing by itself.
  お元気げんきでお過すごしのことと思おもいます。↗

  I hope this letter finds you well.
• 合格ごうかくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'pass' as success in an exam or test: a pass, a passing grade. It is a noun; 合格する is the verb 'to pass (an exam)'.
  私の兄あには試験しけんに合格ごうかくできなかった。↗

  My brother failed to pass the examination.
• 明かすあかすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbOnly for the night: passing the night, typically staying up until dawn rather than sleeping, as in passing a sleepless night. It is not a general 'pass' for time or exams.
  彼かれは寝ねずに一夜いちやを明あかした。↗

  He sat up all night.

Use 「経つ」 or 「経る」 when time itself passes, 「過ごす」 when you spend or pass time doing something, 「明かす」 for passing the night, and 合格 for passing an exam.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 経つたつto pass (of time)
• 経るへるto pass
• 過ごすすごすto spend (time)
• 合格ごうかくpassing (an exam)
• 明かすあかすto pass (the night)
• 受かるうかるto pass (examination)
• 追い越すおいこすto pass (e.g. car)
• 過ぎ去るすぎさるto pass
• 追い抜くおいぬくto pass (a car)
• 通り過ぎるとおりすぎるto go past
• 四球しきゅうbase on balls
• 抜き去るぬきさるto pass
• フォアボールbase on balls
• 突きつきthrust
• 過ぎ行くすぎゆくto pass
• やめておくto pass
• 通過判定つうかはんていpass (verdict)
• 通行証つうこうしょうpass (e.g. backstage pass)
• 通行許可証つうこうきょかしょうpass (e.g. backstage pass)
• 行き違うゆきちがうto cross (each other)
• 通行手形つうこうてがたpermit (to pass, enter, etc.)
• 通券つうけんticket
• うつすto infect (someone)
• 申し渡すもうしわたすto tell
• 後になるあとになるto become late
• 峠とうげ(mountain) pass
• 取るとるto pass
• すぎるto pass (of time)
• 乗るのるto reach
• 下るくだるto pass (of time)
• パスpass (for admission, transport, etc.)
• 去るさるto pass
• 渡すわたすto hand over
• 可かPass (grade)
• 抜かすぬかすto overtake
• 送球そうきゅうpass (in basketball, etc.)
• 通じるつうじるto flow (liquid, current)
• 通用つうようto be accepted (e.g. of a way of thinking)
• 通ずるつうずるto flow (liquid, current)
• 明け暮れるあけくれるto pass (of days)
• 通行券つうこうけんpass (e.g. in public transportation)
• 年がいくとしがいくto pass (of a year)
• 閲するえっするto elapse
• 閲すえっすto elapse
• するto pass (of time)
• いくto pass (of time, seasons, etc.)
• 与えるあたえるto pass (a variable to a function)
• 回るまわるto pass (a time)
• あげるto finish (one's studies)
• 送るおくるto spend (time)
• 通すとおすto pass (a student, applicant, etc.)
• 通るとおるto pass (a test, a bill in the House, etc.)
• 抜くぬくto pass
• 流れるながれるto pass
• うつるto pass (of time)
• 下すくだすto pass (in stool)
• うつすto infect (someone)