路过
lù guò · HSK 6
to pass by or through
🚶 路过 = road + pass — you pass over a road
路 (lù) means road and 过 (guò) means to cross or pass. Together they literally say 'road-pass,' meaning to pass by a place without stopping. Sounds like 'loo go' — you go past the loo without entering.
路 — foot 足 + each 各 (phonetic)
路 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The foot radical 足 on the left signals meaning related to walking or travel, while 各 on the right hints at the ancient pronunciation. Originally referring to a road traveled on foot, it broadened to mean 'road, path, route' in general.
过 — 辶 walk radical + 呙 (phonetic)
过 combines the walking radical 辶, suggesting motion or passage, with 呙 serving as the phonetic component. Originally it depicted crossing or passing by on foot, which extended to meanings like 'to pass,' 'to cross over,' and later 'past' or 'excessive.' The simplified form replaces the traditional 過.