我唔記得咗
ngo5 m4 gei3 dak1 zo2
In Cantonese, "I forgot" is said as 我唔記得咗 (ngo5 m4 gei3 dak1 zo2).
Used to say that you no longer remember a piece of information or a task.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from 唔 (not) and 記得 (remember), literally meaning "not remember". The particle 咗 (zo2) at the end of the phrase indicates that the act of forgetting has already occurred.
Which one should you use?
While 我唔記得咗 means "I forgot" (an event that happened), 我唔記得 (without 咗) would mean "I do not remember" (a current state). Replacing the completion particle 咗 (zo2) with the particle 喇 (laa3) can emphasize the sudden realization that you have forgotten something.
How do you pronounce it?
ngo5 m4 gei3 dak1 zo2
Did you know?
- To describe a sudden, total memory blank, speakers often use the phrase 斷片, which literally means 'broken film' or 'missing frames' from a movie.
- If you forget something so completely that it is gone from your mind, you might say it has 飛咗, which means 'it flew away'.
- The word 記得 (remember) is composed of two characters that literally mean 'record' and 'get'. This implies that remembering is the act of successfully 'getting' or 'capturing' a record in your mind.
Examples in context
- 我唔記得咗佢叫咩名。I forgot his name.This sentence is useful for saying that you forgot a name using 我唔記得咗.Tatoeba #617638 by nickyeow, translation #490881 by adjusting
- 我唔記得咗我想講咩添。I forgot what I was about to say.This sentence is useful for saying that you forgot your own train of thought using 我唔記得咗.Tatoeba #6103541 by nickyeow, translation #2735689 by CK
- 我唔記得咗鎖士多房道門。I forgot to lock the storeroom.This sentence is useful for saying that you forgot to perform a task using 我唔記得咗.Tatoeba #437749 by nickyeow, translation #319976 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a planned meeting.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting志強，你記得聽日要買牛奶呀。Zi kang, nei gei dak ting jat jiu maai nai jau aa.Zi Keung, remember to buy milk tomorrow.
- 志強 Chi Keung對唔住，我唔記得咗買牛奶。deoi m zyu, ngo m gei dak zo maai nai.Sorry, I forgot to buy milk.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting你點解咁唔記得？nei dim gaai zan m gei dak?How could you forget?
- 志強 Chi Keung我尋日太忙，所以唔記得咗。ngo cam jat taai mong, so ji m gei dak zo.I was too busy yesterday, so I forgot.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
