leave · past

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 去 can express leaving or a time that has passed; its kun-reading is さる.
• Basic usage: 去年, read きょねん, means last year; 過去, read かこ, means the past.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• How far back the expression reaches
  • 去年の夏 specifies last summer. 過去の失敗 refers to earlier failures without limiting them to last year.
  • In these two words, 去 is read きょ and こ, respectively, so learn the complete readings with the words.