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Kotomora

忘

forget

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ボウ

Kun'yomi

  • わす.れる

Meaning

忘 centers on the mind losing hold of something: forgetting, failing to recall, or letting a memory slip away.

Most common words using 忘

20 of 67
  • 忘れるわすれる
    N5

    to forget; to leave carelessly; to be forgetful of; to forget about; to forget (an article)

  • 忘れ物わすれもの
    N4

    lost article; thing left behind

  • 忘年会ぼうねんかい
    N4

    year-end party; "forget-the-year" party; bōnenkai

  • 忘却ぼうきゃく
    N1

    lapse of memory; forgetting completely; (consigning to) oblivion

  • 備忘録びぼうろく

    notebook; memorandum; commonplace book

  • 物忘れものわすれ
    N1

    forgetfulness

  • 忘るわする

    to lose something

  • 忘れっぽいわすれっぽい

    forgetful

  • 健忘症けんぼうしょう

    amnesia; loss of memory

  • 忘れな草わすれなぐさ

    forget-me-not (esp. the water forget-me-not, Myosotis scorpioides)

  • 健忘けんぼう

    forgetfulness

  • 忘れ形見わすれがたみ

    memento (from a dead person); souvenir; keepsake

  • 忘我ぼうが

    trance; ecstasy; enthusiasm

  • 備忘びぼう

    reminder

  • 年忘れとしわすれ

    forgetting the hardships of the old year

  • 忘れ去るわすれさる

    to forget completely; to leave behind

  • 置き忘れるおきわすれる

    to leave behind; to misplace; to forget

  • ど忘れどわすれ
    N1

    lapse of memory; (something) slipping one's mind; forgetting for a moment something one knows well

  • お忘れなくおわすれなく

    please don't forget; please remember; keep in mind

  • どう忘れどうわすれ

    lapse of memory; forgetting for a moment something one knows well; (something) slipping one's mind

Explore all words using 忘 →

Study

Etymology

忘 combines 亡 (to lose, disappear) with 心 (heart/mind), suggesting the mind losing something, i.e., forgetting. The component relationship is straightforward and well established.

Meaning mnemonic

When the top 亡 (lost) covers the bottom 心 (heart/mind), memories disappear. Picture a mind with a hole in it, letting thoughts slip away.

Reading mnemonic

For ボウ, imagine a bow (as in bow and arrow) shooting an arrow through your memory, making you forget. Bow -> ボウ, and the arrow pierces the mind.