Korean · Everyday Verbs
"to forget" in Korean: 잊다
잊다itda
to forget in Korean is 잊다 (itda). 잊다 is forget; 잃다 means lose, even though their dictionary pronunciations can sound similar.
to forget: an everyday statement
가끔 비밀번호를 잊어요.gakkeum bimilbeonhoreul ijeoyo.
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How to pronounce 잊다
Say it
itda
/it̚t͈a/
Read 잊다 as itda. The spoken form 잊어요 is ijeoyo; preserve its final 요 when addressing someone politely.
"to forget" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 잊다itda | to forget Dictionary form. | Dictionary form. |
| 잊어요ijeoyo | to forget (polite present) Use 잊어요 in an everyday polite sentence. | Use 잊어요 in an everyday polite sentence. |
| 잊었어요ijeosseoyo | to forget (polite past) Use 잊었어요 for a completed past action or state. | Use 잊었어요 for a completed past action or state. |
How to use 잊다 in real life
- 1to forget: an everyday statement
가끔 비밀번호를 잊어요.
gakkeum bimilbeonhoreul ijeoyo.
I sometimes forget my password.
잊어요 is the present form of 잊다.
- 2to forget: a different situation
어제 약속을 잊었어요.
eoje yaksogeul ijeosseoyo.
I forgot the appointment yesterday.
잊었어요 is the past form of 잊다.
- 3to forget: a question or request
이름을 자주 잊어요?
ireumeul jaju ijeoyo?
Do you often forget names?
잊어요 is the present form of 잊다.
Mistakes English speakers make with 잊다
Incorrect: 잊다.
Correct: 잊어요.
When practicing to forget, 잊다 names the dictionary entry. In polite speech, change the ending to 잊어요.
Incorrect: 어제 잊어요.
Correct: 어제 잊었어요.
When practicing to forget, for a completed event yesterday, use 잊었어요; the present form 잊어요 does not express that past event.
Good to know
잊다 is forget; 잃다 means lose, even though their dictionary pronunciations can sound similar. 잊어요 is the polite conversational form of 잊다; 잊었어요 gives a past-tense form.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led everyday verbs study exercise: two sentences with 잊다
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
가끔 비밀번호를 잊어요.
gakkeum bimilbeonhoreul ijeoyo.
I sometimes forget my password.
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
어제 약속을 잊었어요.
eoje yaksogeul ijeosseoyo.
I forgot the appointment yesterday.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"to forget" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to forget" in Korean
How do I use 잊다 in polite speech?
잊어요 is the polite conversational form of 잊다; 잊었어요 gives a past-tense form.
How do I use 잊다 in a past-tense sentence?
잊었어요 is the polite past form. 잊다 is forget; 잃다 means lose, even though their dictionary pronunciations can sound similar.
What does 잊어요 mean here?
잊어요 is used for to forget. For example, 가끔 비밀번호를 잊어요. means “I sometimes forget my password.”
What should I remember about 잊다?
잊다 is forget; 잃다 means lose, even though their dictionary pronunciations can sound similar.
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