Meaning
This is the past/completed form of the verb 忘 (wàng, to forget). The particle 了 (le) indicates that the action of forgetting has been completed or a change of state has occurred. It's one of the most common ways to express that you forgot something in everyday conversation.
Usage
Native speakers use 忘了 constantly in daily life when they've forgotten something or to tell someone to forget about something. It's often followed by what was forgotten, like 忘了带钱 (forgot to bring money) or 忘了你的名字 (forgot your name). Can also mean 'forget it' or 'never mind' in certain contexts, often repeated as 算了算了，忘了吧.
Examples
- 01糟糕，我忘了带钥匙。, .Oh no, I forgot to bring my keys.
- 02不好意思，我忘了你叫什么名字。, .Sorry, I forgot what your name is.
Characters
Common collocations
- 忘了带forgot to bring
- 忘了说forgot to say/mention
- 都忘了completely forgot
- 差点忘了almost forgot
Antonyms
Origin
忘 is composed of 亡 (wáng, to lose/die) over 心 (xīn, heart), suggesting 'heart has lost/gone away' or losing something from memory. 了 is a grammatical particle indicating completion.