Japanese word

ど忘れ

Pronunciation

Romajidowasure

Meaning

  • nounmomentary forgetfulness

Example

名前をど忘れしました。na mae o do wasu re shi ma shi ta

I had a momentary lapse of memory and forgot the name.

Illustration for ど忘れ (momentary forgetfulness)

More examples

発表中に答えをど忘れしてしまいました。hap pyō chū ni kota e o do wasu re shi te shi ma i ma shi ta

I suddenly forgot the answer during my presentation.

Core concept

Describes a brief gap in recall that makes a familiar fact or name temporarily unavailable.

Common phrases

  • 名前をど忘れするna mae o do wasu re su ru

    momentarily forget a name

  • 答えをど忘れするkota e o do wasu re su ru

    momentarily forget the answer

Similar words

失念shitsunen: A temporary failure to recall something that is normally known or remembered.
物忘れmonowasure: A failure to remember familiar information or belongings, sometimes occurring repeatedly.

Definition in Japanese

知っているはずの事柄や名前を一時的に思い出せなくなること。shi tte i ru ha zu no koto gara ya na mae o ichi ji teki ni omo i da se na ku na ru ko to

Word origin

ど忘れ (dowasure, "momentary forgetfulness") combines ど (do, "intensifying prefix") with 忘れ (wasure, "forgetting"), the noun form of 忘れる (wasureru, "to forget").

Usage tips

  • The Japanese term ど忘れ (dowasure) commonly applies to a familiar person's name or an everyday word that returns to memory shortly afterward.

Word lists with this word