Meaning
遗忘 means to forget or lose memory of something, typically used in more formal or literary contexts compared to the common word 忘记. It often carries a sense of something gradually fading from memory over time, or being left behind in the past. The word can describe both the act of forgetting and the state of being forgotten.
Usage
遗忘 is more formal than 忘记 and appears frequently in written language, literature, and formal speech. It's commonly used when discussing memories that fade with time, historical events that people have forgotten, or things that have been neglected or abandoned. Native speakers often use it when the forgetting has emotional weight or philosophical significance.
Examples
- 01这段历史不应该被遗忘。.This period of history should not be forgotten.
- 02随着时间的流逝，痛苦的回忆会慢慢遗忘。, .As time passes, painful memories will gradually be forgotten.
Characters
Common collocations
- 被遗忘to be forgotten
- 遗忘的角落forgotten corner
- 选择性遗忘selective amnesia
- 遗忘曲线forgetting curve
Antonyms
Origin
The character 遗 means 'to leave behind' or 'to lose,' while 忘 means 'to forget.' Together they emphasize the sense of something being left behind in memory or lost from recollection.