越える・超える|こえるkoeru[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
越える越える（こえる） is the most common written form and is written with kanji and kana, making it the usual choice for beginners.
超える超える（こえる） is less common than 越える（こえる） and is also written with kanji and kana; recognize it as a written variant.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto cross over; to cross; to pass through; to pass over (out of); to go beyond; to go pastesp. 越える
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)esp. 超える
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 越える（こえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 越えます（こえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 越えない（こえない） |
| polite (masen) | 越えません（こえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 越えず・越えぬ（こえず・こえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 越えた（こえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 越えました（こえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 越えなかった（こえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 越えませんでした（こえませんでした） |
| Te form | 越えて（こえて） |
| Potential | 越えられる（こえられる） |
| Passive | 越えられる（こえられる） |
| Causative | 越えさせる（こえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 越えさせられる（こえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 越えれば（こえれば） |
| tara | 越えたら（こえたら） |
| Volitional | 越えよう（こえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 越えましょう（こえましょう） |
| Imperative | 越えろ（こえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym越すこすNeutralVery close to 「越える」 in meaning, but also used for getting through a period of time, as in 「冬を越す」.
- Synonym通り越すとおりこすNeutralSuggests going too far past something, or exceeding a certain degree, as in 「呆れを通り越す」.
- Synonym通過つうかNeutralCovers passing through or by, and also bills or exams passing; you can say 「国境を通過する」, but it does not stress clearing a height or obstacle.
- Synonym横断おうだんNeutralFor crossing roads, oceans and the like; the direction of movement is across, from side to side.
- SynonymすぎるNeutralFor passing a place or time going by; also used as a suffix to express excess ('too much').
- Synonym横切るよこぎるNeutralFor cutting across from one side to the other, as in 「道を横切る」.
- Synonym上回るうわまわるNeutralFor exceeding a set benchmark, as in 「予想を上回る」 or 「期待を上回る」; the focus is on the result of the comparison.
- Synonym超越ちょうえつWrittenWritten and abstract: for transcending ordinary levels or realms, as in 「時代を超越する」.
- Synonym超過ちょうかNeutralFor exceeding a set limit, as in 「時間超過」 or 「重量超過」; it carries the nuance of going over the allowed amount.
- SynonymわたるNeutralFor crossing rivers, seas or roads; the emphasis is on getting from one shore/side to the other.
- Synonym勝るまさるNeutralFor coming out ahead in a comparison, as in 「聞きしに勝る」; the focus is on which of two is better.
- Related通り過ぎるとおりすぎるNeutralMeans going past a place without stopping; unlike 「越える」, it carries no sense of clearing an obstacle.
- Related通り抜けるとおりぬけるNeutralMeans passing through the inside of a place and out the other side, e.g. a tunnel or an alley.
- Related通るとおるNeutralThe most common everyday word for passing or going along; it also covers passing an exam, but does not stress getting over an obstacle.
- Related経過けいかNeutralFor time passing or how events progress, as in 「経過観察」; it can mean going via a place, but centers on time and process, not clearing obstacles.
- Related経るへるWrittenWritten word for passing through a place or going through time and processes, as in 「年月を経る」.
- Related抜けるぬけるNeutralA broad word: it can mean passing through, but also falling out or being omitted; it overlaps with 「越える」 only in the sense of going through.
- Related優れるすぐれるNeutralDescribes ability or quality as outstanding; when 「越える」 is written 「超える」, it also means to exceed.
- Related凌ぐしのぐNeutralMeans to surpass, but also to endure and get through, as in 「暑さを凌ぐ」.
- Related過ぎ行くすぎゆくWrittenWritten style, with a lyrical feel; describes things passing by or time slipping away.
- Related通り抜けとおりぬけNeutralA noun for passing through or a through passage, as in 「通り抜け禁止」.
- Related抜きん出るぬきんでるWrittenWritten word for standing out from the crowd and far excelling the rest.
- Antonym下回るしたまわるNeutralAntonym: for figures falling below a benchmark; the opposite of 「上回る」 and 「超える」.
- Antonym劣るおとるNeutralAntonym: for being inferior or falling short of another; the opposite of 「超える」 in its 'surpass' sense.
Use 「越える」 or 「超える」 to cross mountains or borders, or to exceed a quantity or limit. For exceeding a benchmark, say 「上回る」; for going over a set limit, 「超過」. To cross a road, use 「渡る」 or 「横断」; to pass by a place, 「通る」. The other words cover specific shades: going past without stopping (「通り過ぎる」), through a tunnel (「通り抜ける」), time passing (「過ぎる」, 「経過」), or being superior (「勝る」, 「優れる」).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
