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忘掉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
忘掉wàngdiàoto forgetHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #3373, Very Hard
wàngdiào(wang4diao4)wang diao T4
  1. 1to forget
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March 24, 2026

忘掉wàngdiào(wang4diao4)

忘掉 (wàngdiào) means 'to forget' or 'to let go of a memory or thought.' It is often used in contexts where someone is trying to move on from a past experience or emotion. This phrase combines the character 忘 (wàng), meaning 'to forget,' and the verb 掉 (diào), which conveys the sense of letting something fall away or be lost.

Strokes18Frequency#3373DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, forgetting the past is sometimes viewed as a necessary step for personal growth and resilience. The concept of moving on is often encouraged in literature and popular media, reflecting a cultural emphasis on harmony and emotional balance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, heavy bag of memories weighing you down. When you use 忘掉, you are letting that bag fall off your shoulders, freeing yourself from the burden. The sound 'wàng' resembles 'wong' which could remind you of 'wrong,' as in forgetting a wrong that has happened.

Meanings of 忘掉

wàngdiào(wang4diao4)
1to forget
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About 忘掉

忘掉Simplified
18Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 忘掉

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AI Study Notes for 忘掉

Quick Contrast

忘记 (wàngjì) vs 忘掉 (wàngdiào): use 忘记 for general forgetting without the nuance of letting go.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 忘掉 with just 忘 (wàng), which is a more general term for forgetting. 忘掉 is often more expressive, indicating a deliberate action of letting go. Common collocations include 忘掉过去 (wàngdiào guòqù - forget the past) and 不想忘掉 (bù xiǎng wàngdiào - don't want to forget).

HSK Study Tips

Though 忘掉 may not be at a specific HSK level, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above, expanding vocabulary related to emotions and memory. Students should focus on the components of the phrase and practice using it in different emotional contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 忘掉 in contexts where a simpler 忘 would suffice. For example, saying '我忘掉他' (wǒ wàngdiào tā) to mean 'I forgot him' is technically correct, but '我忘了他' (wǒ wàngle tā) is more commonly used.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 忘掉

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Component Characters

忘wàngto forget
HSK 27 strokes心
View full entry
掉diàoto fall
HSK 411 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say to forget in Chinese

“to forget” in Chinese is忘掉wàngdiào

忘掉 (wàngdiào) means 'to forget' or 'to let go of a memory or thought.' It is often used in contexts where someone is trying to move on from a past experience or emotion. This phrase combines the character 忘 (wàng), meaning 'to forget,' and the verb 掉 (diào), which conveys the sense of letting something fall away or be lost.

When to use 忘掉

Be careful not to confuse 忘掉 with just 忘 (wàng), which is a more general term for forgetting. 忘掉 is often more expressive, indicating a deliberate action of letting go. Common collocations include 忘掉过去 (wàngdiào guòqù - forget the past) and 不想忘掉 (bù xiǎng wàngdiào - don't want to forget).

忘掉 or something close to it

忘记 (wàngjì) vs 忘掉 (wàngdiào): use 忘记 for general forgetting without the nuance of letting go.

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 忘掉 in contexts where a simpler 忘 would suffice. For example, saying '我忘掉他' (wǒ wàngdiào tā) to mean 'I forgot him' is technically correct, but '我忘了他' (wǒ wàngle tā) is more commonly used.

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忘
掉

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Frequently Asked Questions about 忘掉

忘掉 is generally used in informal contexts, making it suitable for everyday conversation.

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