Meaning
忽 primarily means 'suddenly' or 'abruptly' when used as an adverb, describing unexpected actions or changes. As a verb, it means to neglect, ignore, or overlook something. The character combines the heart radical (忄) with a phonetic component, suggesting something that affects one's awareness or attention.
Usage
As an adverb meaning 'suddenly', 忽 is more literary and formal than the common 突然. It frequently appears in classical or written Chinese and in set phrases like 忽然. As a verb meaning 'to neglect', it's used in compounds like 忽视 (to overlook) and 疏忽 (to be careless).
Examples
- 01天气忽冷忽热，容易感冒。, .The weather is alternately hot and cold, making it easy to catch a cold.
- 02我们不能忽视这个问题的严重性。.We cannot ignore the seriousness of this problem.
Common collocations
- 忽然suddenly
- 忽视to overlook
- 疏忽大意careless and negligent
- 忽冷忽热hot and cold (literally or figuratively inconsistent)
Antonyms
Origin
The character contains the heart radical (忄), suggesting a mental state or perception, combined with a phonetic element. The idea of suddenness relates to something that escapes one's notice or attention momentarily.