Understanding "忘记" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 忘记
• Pinyin: wàngjì
• Literal Meaning: "to forget" (忘 means "to forget," 记 means "to remember")
• Primary Meaning: To fail to remember something; to let something slip from one's memory.

2. In-depth Explanation

Context and Usage

"忘记" is a common verb used to express the act of forgetting something, whether intentionally or unintentionally. It can refer to forgetting tasks, events, names, or even feelings. Unlike some English phrases (e.g., "slip one's mind"), "忘记" is neutral and doesn’t carry strong emotional connotations unless context adds them.

It’s often used in both spoken and written Chinese and can be paired with objects like nouns (e.g., 忘记名字, "forget a name") or actions (e.g., 忘记做作业, "forget to do homework").

Character Breakdown

• 忘 (wàng): Means "to forget." The character combines the heart/mind radical (心) with the phonetic component "亡" (wáng, meaning "to perish"), suggesting something fading from memory.
• 记 (jì): Means "to remember" or "to record." It uses the speech radical (讠) with the phonetic component "己" (jǐ, meaning "self"), implying recalling or noting something.

Together, "忘记" literally means "to forget and not remember," emphasizing the complete loss of memory.

3. Example Sentences

1. Chinese: 我忘记带钥匙了。
   Pinyin: Wǒ wàngjì dài yàoshi le.
   English: I forgot to bring my keys.

2. Chinese: 不要忘记明天的会议。
   Pinyin: Bùyào wàngjì míngtiān de huìyì.
   English: Don’t forget tomorrow’s meeting.

3. Chinese: 他忘记了她的生日。
   Pinyin: Tā wàngjìle tā de shēngrì.
   English: He forgot her birthday.

Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, forgetting important dates (like birthdays or holidays) or obligations (like repaying favors) can be seen as a sign of carelessness or disrespect. The phrase "别忘记" (bié wàngjì, "don’t forget") is often used as a gentle reminder among friends and family.

Interestingly, "忘" appears in idioms like 忘恩负义 (wàng ēn fù yì, "to forget kindness and betray justice"), highlighting how forgetting is sometimes tied to moral judgments.

Conclusion

"忘记" (wàngjì) is a straightforward yet essential word meaning "to forget." Its characters vividly depict the loss of memory, and it’s widely used in daily conversations. Remember to practice it in sentences to avoid forgetting how to use it!