忘
forget
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
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.