The kanji 去 (pronounced きょ in Japanese) fundamentally means "to leave," "to go away," or "to depart." It implies the act of moving from a place, a situation, or a state. This can be a physical departure or a figurative removal. It carries the sense of separation or the cessation of something.

・On-yomi (音読み): キョ (kyo) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): さ去る (saru) - to leave, to go away.

⚫︎ 過去 (かこ) Translation: Past, the time that has 去 gone ⚫︎ 去年 (きょねん) Translation: Last year, the year that has 去 gone ⚫︎ 立ち去る (たちさる) Translation: To leave, to depart (literally: to stand and 去 leave)

The kanji 去 is pictographic. It depicts a person moving away from a barrier or an obstacle. The top part represents a person, and the bottom part represents something that the person is moving away from. Over time, the character evolved to represent the abstract concept of leaving or departing.