経 過(けいか)

けいか

noun

progress; passage; course

See also: 経過(けいか)する (verb form)

1. progress; course; development

The way something develops or unfolds over time.

病状(びょうじょう)の経過(けいか)を観察(かんさつ)する。

To observe the progress of the illness.

事件(じけん)の経過(けいか)を説明(せつめい)する。

To explain the course of the incident.

手術(しゅじゅつ)後(ご)の経過(けいか)は良好(りょうこう)で、来週(らいしゅう)退院(たいいん)できる見込(みこ)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(ねん)が経過(けいか)した。

Three years have passed.

開始(かいし)から1時間(じかん)が経過(けいか)した。

One hour has passed since the start.

時間(じかん)が経過(けいか)するにつれて、記憶(きおく)は薄(うす)れていく。

As time passes, memories fade.

経過(けいか) 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(けいか)を見守(みまも)る: to watch how things develop
経過(けいか)報告(ほうこく): progress report
経過(けいか)観察(かんさつ): monitoring progress
時間(じかん)の経過(けいか): passage of time

VERB FORM:
経過(けいか)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(じゅつご)の経過(けいか) (post-operative progress), 経過(けいか)良好(りょうこう) (good progress). Also common in news and reports.

SIMILAR WORDS:

過程(かてい): process (focuses on steps/stages, not time)
推移(すいい): transition, shift (focuses on changes in data or trends)

Related Words

Synonym: 過程(かてい) (process (stages))

Synonym: 推移(すいい) (transition, shift)

general

Added 2026.1.16 17:14 · Revised 2026.6.7 22:05

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