1.
progress; course; development
The way something develops or unfolds over time.
病状の経過を観察する。
To observe the progress of the illness.
事件の経過を説明する。
To explain the course of the incident.
手術後の経過は良好で、来週退院できる見込みだ。
The post-operative progress is good, and he is expected to be discharged next week.
2.
passage (of time); elapse
The passing of time.
3年が経過した。
Three years have passed.
開始から1時間が経過した。
One hour has passed since the start.
時間が経過するにつれて、記憶は薄れていく。
As time passes, memories fade.
経過 has two main uses: describing how a situation develops over time (sense 1) and the simple passage of time (sense 2).
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 経過を見守る: to watch how things develop
- 経過報告: progress report
- 経過観察: monitoring progress
- 時間の経過: passage of time
VERB FORM:
経過する means 'to pass' or 'to elapse.' It is intransitive — time or a period is the subject.
USAGE:
Often used in medical and formal contexts: 術後の経過 (post-operative progress), 経過良好 (good progress). Also common in news and reports.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 過程: process (focuses on steps/stages, not time)
- 推移: transition, shift (focuses on changes in data or trends)