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March 24, 2026
忘wàng(wang4)
The character 忘 (wàng) means 'to forget' and is commonly used in contexts where something has slipped one's mind or been overlooked. It can also imply neglecting responsibilities or duties, making it versatile in both personal and formal situations.
Strokes7Radical心Frequency#469DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, forgetting important dates, such as birthdays or anniversaries, can be seen as disrespectful, emphasizing the value placed on memory and remembering family ties.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named Wang who forgets his keys every time he leaves the house. The character 忘 has the heart radical (心) on the left, symbolizing emotions or memory, combined with the '亡' (wáng) which can remind you of loss, as in losing your memory or forgetting something.
Meanings of 忘
wàng(wang4)
1to forget
2to overlook
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 忘
忘Simplified
7Strokes
心Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#469Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 忘
Podcast: 忘
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AI Study Notes for 忘
Quick Contrast
遗忘 (yíwàng) vs 忘 (wàng) — use 忘 (wàng) for everyday forgetfulness, while 遗忘 (yíwàng) implies a more formal or serious sense of forgetting.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person named Wang who forgets his keys every time he leaves the house. The character 忘 has the heart radical (心) on the left, symbolizing emotions or memory, combined with the '亡' (wáng) which can remind you of loss, as in losing your memory or forgetting something.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 忘 with 忘记 (wàngjì), which specifically means 'to forget' in a more complete sense. It's important to use 忘 in both formal and informal contexts but be mindful of the tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 忘 is not in the HSK levels, it is a useful word for learners at HSK 3 or higher as it connects with vocabulary related to memory and tasks. Students should focus on its usage in daily conversation and practice forming sentences expressing forgetfulness.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, forgetting important dates, such as birthdays or anniversaries, can be seen as disrespectful, emphasizing the value placed on memory and remembering family ties.
Common Mistakes
Learners often omit the tone when saying 忘, pronouncing it as 'wang' instead of 'wàng'. Additionally, they may confuse 忘 with 忘记, using them interchangeably in contexts where one is more appropriate than the other.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 忘
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Grammar Patterns of 忘
忘 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Don't forget, I have always kept the money rolling in.
8
贝科夫已经忘记了马利宁是个清教徒式的人物。
bèi kē fū yǐ jīng wàng jì le mǎ lì níng shì gè qīng jiào tú shì de rén wù。
Bykov had forgotten that Malinin was something of a puritan.
9
我把准备的东西忘了个一干二净。
wǒ bǎ zhǔn bèi de dōng xī wàng le gè yī gān èr jìng。
I clean forgot everything I had prepared.
10
别忘了锁好门窗。
bié wàng le suǒ hǎo mén chuāng。
Don't forget to lock up.
Cultural Notes for 忘
💡Did you know?
The character 忘 (wàng) is composed of the heart (心) and the concept of a negation, indicating forgetting something deeply felt. In Chinese culture, forgetting something important can be seen as neglecting emotional connections.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, forgetting important dates, such as birthdays or anniversaries, can be seen as disrespectful, emphasizing the value placed on memory and remembering family ties.
Word Family of 忘
Words Containing This Character20
忘wàngto forget
忘记wàngjìto forget忘記
难忘nánwàngunforgettable難忘
遗忘yíwàngto forget遺忘
忘掉wàngdiàoto forget
备忘录bèiwànglùmemorandum備忘錄
忘却to forget忘卻
念念不忘niànniànbúwàngto keep in mind constantly (idiom)
健忘forgetful
淡忘to be forgotten
忘怀to forget忘懷
忘我selflessness
忘恩负义to kick a benefactor in the teeth忘恩負義
忘情unmoved
流连忘返to linger流連忘返
过目不忘to have a highly retentive memory過目不忘
忘乎所以to get carried away
忘不了wàngbùliǎocannot forget
废寝忘食fèiqǐnwàngshíto skip one's sleep and meals廢寢忘食
得意忘形beside oneself with joy
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 忘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 忘
Common phrases using 忘 include '忘记' (wàngjì), meaning 'to forget', and '忘了' (wàngle), which also indicates forgetting something. These phrases can be used in various contexts to express the act of forgetting.
Yes, 忘 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is a basic character that appears frequently in conversations and texts, making it essential for learners to master.
忘 (wàng) means 'to forget' or 'to overlook'. It can also imply neglecting something important or failing to remember. This character is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing memory or tasks.
You can use 忘 (wàng) in a sentence like '我忘了带书' (Wǒ wàngle dài shū), which means 'I forgot to bring the book.' It's often followed by another verb to indicate what was forgotten.
You can use 忘 in a sentence like '我忘了我的书' (Wǒ wàngle wǒ de shū) meaning 'I forgot my book.'
Yes, 忘 can be synonymous with 忘记 (wàngjì), but 忘 is more commonly used in general conversations.
