忘れる vs 置き忘れる
Japanese word comparison
Listen to 忘れる
Listen to 置き忘れる
| 忘れる | 置き忘れる |
|---|---|
wa-SU-re-ru verb (る-verb, transitive) | おきわすれる (oki-wasureru / okiwasure-ru) verb (る-verb, transitive) |
| to forget; to fail to remember | to leave something behind; to forget something in a place (physically) |
How they differ
置き忘れる specifically refers to forgetting an object by leaving it somewhere (a physical omission), whereas 忘れる covers both abstract and concrete forgetting; 置き忘れる cannot be used for forgetting facts or obligations.
When to use each
When to use 忘れる: Use 忘れる for general forgetting of things, people, events, or duties.
When to use 置き忘れる: Use 置き忘れる when you mean you left a physical item behind or forgot to take it with you.
Side-by-side examples
- 傘を忘れた。
(I forgot my umbrella.) - 駅に傘を置き忘れてしまった。
(I left my umbrella at the station (forgot to take it).)
Register & nuance: 置き忘れる is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech when referring to leaving physical items behind; 忘れる is broader and also neutral.