Meaning
忘记 means to forget or be unable to recall something. It's one of the most common verbs for expressing that information, a person, an event, or a task has slipped from memory. The word combines 忘 (to forget) with 记 (to remember/record), essentially meaning 'to lose from memory.'
Usage
Native speakers use 忘记 in everyday conversation for both accidental forgetting (forgot keys, forgot a date) and more significant lapses in memory. It can take a direct object or be followed by verb phrases with 了. Common patterns include 忘记了 (forgot, completed action) and 别忘记 (don't forget). Slightly more formal than the colloquial 忘了 alone.
Examples
- 01我忘记带钥匙了。.I forgot to bring my keys.
- 02别忘记明天的会议。.Don't forget tomorrow's meeting.
Characters
Common collocations
- 忘记了forgot (completed action)
- 别忘记don't forget
- 忘记做某事forget to do something
- 永远不会忘记will never forget
Antonyms
Origin
The character 忘 combines 亡 (to lose, to die) with 心 (heart/mind), suggesting something lost from the mind. 记 combines 讠(speech) with 己 (self), originally meaning to record or commit to memory.