忽

1. Suddenly or abruptly: marks a sharp transition or an unexpected occurrence, often characterized by brevity.

2. To neglect, disregard, or overlook: to treat something as insignificant or unworthy of attention.

3. Negligible or trivial: referring to a small quantity or insignificant amount.

As an adverb, it typically precedes the verb phrase. As a verb, it is transitive and takes a direct object.

In its adverbial sense, 忽 is often interchangeable with 遽 or 猝, though it frequently carries a nuance of suddenness characterized by brevity (a "blink of an eye"). In its verbal sense, it denotes a judgment of value rather than a failure of memory (distinguishing it from 忘) and functions as a synonym for treating something "lightly" (輕).

The shift between the adverbial and verbal senses is total. Because both meanings center on the concept of "slightness"—either in time or importance—the translator should ensure that syntax clearly identifies whether 忽 is modifying the action of the sentence or serving as the predicate itself.