Translation and Meaning of: 忘れる - wasureru

The Japanese word 「忘れる」 (wasureru) is a verb that means "to forget." Used broadly in the Japanese language, this expression reflects the action of involuntarily setting something aside, whether it's a memory, a commitment, or a physical object. The word is used in various everyday contexts, exemplifying an essential aspect of human interactions and mental processes: forgetting.

Etymologically, 「忘れる」 is composed of two main elements: the kanji 「忘」 and the verbal suffix 「れる」. The kanji 「忘」 (bou) contains the radical 「心」, which represents the heart or mind, and is often associated with feelings and mental processes. „忘” also includes the phonetic part 「亡」, which means "to lose" or "to die", suggesting the idea of a loss of memory or something crucial that is not retained in the mind. The suffix 「れる」 is a passive or potential form, making the verb a non-voluntary reflection of forgetting.

The origin of the word dates back to ancient times in Japan, where orality and writing with Chinese characters (kanji) formed a large part of communication and cultural record. The use of 「忘れる」 is well documented in literary and historical texts, demonstrating that the concept of forgetting was as relevant in the past as it is today. The evolution of this verb, like many others in the Japanese language, remains an example of how the Japanese language has adapted and evolved over time, incorporating and simplifying complex concepts through symbolic characters and grammatical structure.

In everyday Japanese, 「忘れる」 can appear in many forms and expressions to describe different nuances of forgetting. For example, 「忘れ物」 (wasuremono) refers to lost or forgotten items, while 「忘年会」 (bounenkai) is an end-of-year party where the goal is literally to "forget the year." Such derivatives and uses demonstrate the adaptability and richness of the verb 「忘れる」 in the Japanese language, as well as its cultural significance in addressing themes of memory and forgetting.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

忘却する (bōkyaku suru) - Deliberately or completely forgetting.
忘却 (bōkyaku) - The act of forgetting, often completely.
忘れ去る (wasureru) - Completely forget something, set it aside.
忘れ落ちる (wasureochiru) - Forget something that was on your mind; lose the memory.
忘れる (wasureru) - Forget; the act of not remembering.
忘れ出す (wasure dasu) - Start to forget something; gradually lose the memory.

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