How to say "forget" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 忘れるわすれるichidan verb, transitive verbThe default verb for forgetting: information, names, appointments, experiences, or forgetting to do something you meant to do. It also covers carelessly leaving a thing behind. When in doubt, this is the word.
- 失するしっするsuru verb (irregular), transitive verbChiefly means to lose or miss something, and to be excessive; 'forget' is a secondary sense. It is seldom the word you want for saying you forgot something — use 忘れる for that.
- 置き忘れるおきわすれるichidan verb, transitive verbForgetting a thing by leaving it behind: you put it down somewhere and go off without it. It covers leaving things behind and misplacing them, not forgetting facts or plans.
- 逸するいっするsuru verb (irregular), transitive verbMeans to overlook or omit something — to let it slip past one's attention — with 'forget' as a further sense. For simply saying you forgot, 忘れる is the word, not this one.
Choose 「忘れる」 for forgetting facts, plans, or experiences and for carelessly leaving things; 「置き忘れる」 for leaving an object behind; 「失する」 and 「逸する」 chiefly mean to lose, miss, or overlook, not plain forgetting.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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