Early forms of 去 show a human figure, similar to 大, above a lower shape usually read as an opening, dwelling or container. Many scholars understand the whole graph as a person departing from a place, but the exact identity of the lower element and the original scene remain debated. This hand-drawn form keeps those two attested parts without turning one interpretation into certainty.
A piece of culture
Come and go 来 / 來 and 去 form a useful viewpoint pair: 来 brings movement towards “here”, while 去 sends it towards “there”. Add 出, “out”, and 出来 / 出來 means “come out” but 出去 means “go out”. Chinese often builds precise directions from small characters you already know rather than needing a completely new word.
Use it in a real word
去年
qùnián · heoi3 nin4
last year — literally the year that has gone; you already know 年