Translation and Meaning of: 度忘れ - dowasure

Have you ever experienced that situation where a word simply disappears from your mind, even though you know it well? In Japanese, this phenomenon has a specific name: 度忘れ (どわすれ, dowasure). In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and everyday use of this expression, as well as understand how it fits into Japanese culture. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, discover why this word is so useful in daily life.

What does 度忘れ (dowasure) mean?

The word 度忘れ describes the act of momentarily forgetting something you usually know, such as a name, a word, or a simple fact. Unlike a more serious lapse in memory, dowasure happens when the information is "on the tip of your tongue," but doesn't come to mind at the moment.

In Portuguese, we can compare it to expressions like "deu um branco" or "esqueci na hora". The difference is that, in Japanese, this idea is expressed by a single term, showing how the language values specific nuances of temporary forgetfulness.

The origin and the kanjis of 度忘れ

The composition of 度忘れ helps to understand its meaning. The first kanji, 度 (do), can mean "time" or "degree," while 忘れ (wasure) comes from the verb 忘れる (wasureru), which means "to forget." Together, they form the idea of a temporary forgetfulness, something that happens from time to time.

It is worth noting that 度忘れ is not an ancient or literary term – it is still used today in both informal and formal conversations. Its structure in kanji also makes memorization easier, as the components are common in other everyday words.

How and when to use 度忘れ in everyday Japanese

In everyday life, Japanese people use 度忘れ for common situations, such as not remembering the name of an acquaintance or an important date. For example, someone might say: "彼の名前を度忘れしてしまった" (Kare no namae o dowasure shite shimatta) – "I forgot his name at that moment."

Although it is a common word, it carries a light and even self-deprecating tone. The Japanese often laugh at these lapses, especially when they occur in social contexts. This reflects a cultural perspective that accepts small human mistakes without big dramas.

Tips to memorize and not forget(度忘れする)

If you are learning Japanese, one way to reinforce 度忘れ is to associate it with real-life situations. When you find yourself not remembering a word in Japanese that you have already studied, think: "Ah, that was a dowasure!". This practical association helps to commit the term to memory.

Another tip is to observe that 忘れる (wasureru) appears in several other words related to memory, such as 忘れ物 (wasuremono, "forgotten item"). Creating these mental connections makes it easier to learn not only 度忘れ (dawabazure) but an entire vocabulary group.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 忘れっぽい (wasureppoi) - Forgotten, tendency to forget
• 忘却 (boukyaku) - Forgetfulness, memory loss (general)
• 記憶喪失 (kioku soushitsu) - Memory loss (general symptom)
• 記憶喪失症 (kioku soushitsu shou) - Memory loss disorder
• 記憶喪失状態 (kioku soushitsu joutai) - State of memory loss
• 記憶喪失症候群 (kioku soushitsu shoukougun) - Memory loss syndrome
• 記憶喪失症状 (kioku soushitsu shoujou) - Symptoms of memory loss

度忘れ

Romaji: dowasure
Kana: どわすれ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: memory lapse; forget for a moment

Meaning in English: lapse of memory;forget for a moment

Definition: Forget memories or information during a crto period of time.

Example Sentences - (度忘れ) dowasure

See below some example sentences:

私は度忘れが多いです。

Watashi wa tabi wasure ga ōi desu

I often forget.

I have a lot of forgetfulness.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 度忘れ (tabi wasure) - (noun that means "frequent forgetting")
• が (ga) - subject particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 多い (ooi) - adjective that means "very"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence