How to Write 忽 (hū) — Meaning “suddenly; to neglect; to ignore”

Imagine someone saying 'Don't (勿) hurt my heart (心) suddenly (忽)!' This links the top and bottom parts to the meaning of suddenness. Another trick: picture a heart that suddenly beats faster when someone runs by like the shape of 勿.

Write the top part 勿 first with its specific stroke order: left-falling stroke, horizontal hook, then two more left-falling strokes. Then add the bottom 心: left dot, central hook (卧钩), middle dot, right dot. A common mistake is making the top too wide or the bottom too small, so keep them balanced.

All three have the heart radical 心, but their top parts differ: 忽 uses 勿 (do not), 忌 uses 己 (self), and 忍 uses 刃 (blade). Meaning-wise, 忽 means 'sudden' or 'neglect', 忌 means 'jealous' or 'avoid', and 忍 means 'endure' or 'tolerate'. Visually, remember that 忽 has a 'do not' top, 忌 has a 'self' top, and 忍 has a 'blade' top.

忽 appears in common words like 忽然 (hū rán, 'suddenly') and 忽略 (hū lüè, 'to ignore'). It is used in both writing and speech, especially to describe unexpected events or changes in speed, as in 忽快忽慢 (hū kuài hū màn, 'now fast, now slow'). There is no special cultural note, but it is a practical character for daily conversations and stories.

Common words containing 忽 include: 忽然 (hū rán) — suddenly; all of a sudden; 忽略 (hū lüè) — to ignore; to neglect; to overlook; 忽快忽慢 (hū kuài hū màn) — now fast, now slow; irregular speed.