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遗忘 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
遗忘yíwàngto become forgottenHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #5144, Very Hard
遗忘yíwàngto forgetHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #5144, Very Hard
yíwàng(yi2wang4)yi wang T2
  1. 1to become forgotten
  2. 2to forget
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March 24, 2026

遗忘(遺忘)yíwàng(yi2wang4)

遗忘 (yí wàng) means 'to forget' or 'to become forgotten.' It conveys the sense of losing memory or recollection of something important, often used in contexts where memories fade over time or when one fails to remember. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially when discussing memories or obligations.

Strokes19Frequency#5144DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The concept of forgetting is often tied to the idea of ancestral reverence in Chinese culture, where remembering ancestors is significant. In this context, 遗忘 can imply a loss of connection to one's heritage and family history.

Memory tip

Think of 遗 (yí) as ‘to lose’ and 忘 (wàng) as ‘to forget.’ Imagine a person losing their memory in a foggy maze, where the mist symbolizes the things they have forgotten. This visual can help you remember the sound 'yi' as the action of losing and 'wang' as the act of forgetting.

Meanings of 遗忘

yíwàng(yi2wang4)
1to become forgotten
2to forget
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About 遗忘

遗忘Simplified
遺忘Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 遗忘

Quick Contrast

忘 (wàng) — use 遗忘 when emphasizing the gradual fading of memories, while 忘 is more straightforward and immediate.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 遗忘 with 忘记 (wàng jì), which is more commonly used in everyday conversation. 遗忘 tends to sound more formal or literary. Remember that 遗忘 is often used with a subject that indicates something significant, such as responsibilities or important dates.

HSK Study Tips

While 遗忘 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of more advanced texts. Focus on its usage in literary contexts, as it often appears in stories and essays discussing themes of memory and loss.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 遗忘 with 忘记, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我遗忘了我的钥匙' (I forgot my keys) is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal; '我忘记了我的钥匙' is more natural in conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 遗忘

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Component characters

遗yíto lose
HSK 512 strokes辶
View full entry
忘wàngto forget
HSK 27 strokes心
View full entry

How to say to become forgotten in Chinese

“to become forgotten” in Chinese is遗忘yíwàng

遗忘 (yí wàng) means 'to forget' or 'to become forgotten.' It conveys the sense of losing memory or recollection of something important, often used in contexts where memories fade over time or when one fails to remember. This term is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially when discussing memories or obligations.

When to use 遗忘

Be careful not to confuse 遗忘 with 忘记 (wàng jì), which is more commonly used in everyday conversation. 遗忘 tends to sound more formal or literary. Remember that 遗忘 is often used with a subject that indicates something significant, such as responsibilities or important dates.

遗忘 or something close to it

忘 (wàng) — use 遗忘 when emphasizing the gradual fading of memories, while 忘 is more straightforward and immediate.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 遗忘 with 忘记, using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我遗忘了我的钥匙' (I forgot my keys) is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal; '我忘记了我的钥匙' is more natural in conversation.

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遗
忘

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Frequently asked questions about 遗忘

遗忘 is more formal and often used in literary contexts, while 忘记 is more commonly used in everyday conversations.

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