hūlüè: 忽略 - Ignore, Overlook, Neglect

• Keywords: hūlüè, 忽略, ignore Chinese, overlook Chinese, neglect in Chinese, how to say ignore in Mandarin, Chinese word for overlook, hūlüè meaning, hūlüè usage, difference between 忽略 and 不理
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 忽略 (hūlüè), which means to ignore, overlook, or neglect. This comprehensive guide covers its core meaning, cultural context, and practical usage in modern China. Understand how to use 忽略 to talk about everything from accidentally overlooking a detail in a report to intentionally ignoring a person's advice, and learn the key differences between 忽略 and similar words like 不理 (bù lǐ) and 忘记 (wàngjì).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hūlüè
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To ignore, overlook, neglect, or fail to pay attention to something or someone.
• In a Nutshell: 忽略 is a versatile word that covers the entire spectrum of inattention. It can describe an unintentional mistake, like overlooking a typo in an email. It can also describe a conscious decision, like ignoring a warning or neglecting your responsibilities. The core idea is a lack of attention or consideration, whether by accident or by choice.

• 忽 (hū): This character often means “suddenly” or “to neglect.” It's composed of 勿 (wù - do not) over 心 (xīn - heart). You can think of it as something “not being in your heart/mind,” which leads to neglect or overlooking it.
• 略 (lüè): This character means “to omit,” “to skim over,” or “briefly.” It carries the sense of skipping details or taking a shortcut.
• Together, 忽 (neglect) and 略 (skim over) combine to create the meaning of 忽略 (hūlüè): to fail to notice or consider something, as if you have skimmed past it without giving it proper thought.

In Chinese culture, which often prioritizes social harmony (和谐, héxié) and “face” (面子, miànzi), the act of 忽略 can be a subtle but powerful social tool. Unlike the directness often valued in Western cultures, deliberately choosing to 忽略 a minor mistake or an awkward comment can be a way to show politeness and protect someone's dignity. For instance, if a colleague makes a small error in a presentation, a manager might 忽略 it in public to avoid embarrassing them, addressing it privately later. This is different from the Western concept of “letting it slide,” which is often about casualness; in the Chinese context, it is a more conscious act of preserving social grace. Conversely, being 忽略'd by someone, especially a superior or an elder, can feel like a significant slight. It can imply that you are not considered important. The act of ignoring someone or their input carries social weight and can be a passive way of communicating disapproval or disinterest.

忽略 is a common word used in both formal and informal settings. Its connotation depends entirely on the context.

• In the Workplace: It is often used formally to discuss overlooking risks, data, or important factors in a project. Here, it is usually neutral or negative, highlighting a mistake. (e.g., “我们忽略了一个关键的市场趋势。” - We overlooked a key market trend.)
• In Personal Relationships: It can describe neglecting a person's feelings or needs, which is strongly negative. (e.g., “他总是忽略我的感受。” - He always ignores my feelings.) It can also mean simply not noticing someone. (e.g., “对不起，我刚才没看见你，把你忽略了。” - Sorry, I didn't see you just now and ignored you.)
• On Social Media: People might complain about their posts being 忽略'd (ignored) by their friends, or that a company has 忽略'd customer complaints online.

• Example 1:
  • 你太专注于工作，不能忽略你的健康。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ tài zhuānzhù yú gōngzuò, bùnéng hūlüè nǐ de jiànkāng.
  • English: You are too focused on work; you can't neglect your health.
  • Analysis: Here, 忽略 means “to neglect,” carrying a strong negative connotation of failing to provide necessary care or attention.
• Example 2:
  • 写报告的时候，我忽略了一个非常重要的细节。
  • Pinyin: Xiě bàogào de shíhòu, wǒ hūlüè le yí ge fēicháng zhòngyào de xìjié.
  • English: While writing the report, I overlooked a very important detail.
  • Analysis: This is a common, neutral use of 忽略, meaning an unintentional “overlooking” or “missing” of information.
• Example 3:
  • 他的建议很有道理，我们不应该忽略。
  • Pinyin: Tā de jiànyì hěn yǒu dàolǐ, wǒmen bù yìnggāi hūlüè.
  • English: His suggestion makes a lot of sense; we shouldn't ignore it.
  • Analysis: This shows 忽略 used in a professional context, meaning “to disregard” or “fail to consider.”
• Example 4:
  • 我跟他打招呼，但他完全忽略了我。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gēn tā dǎ zhāohū, dàn tā wánquán hūlüè le wǒ.
  • English: I said hello to him, but he completely ignored me.
  • Analysis: This implies a deliberate act of ignoring a person, which is socially negative.
• Example 5:
  • 这个问题太小了，我们可以暂时忽略它。
  • Pinyin: Zhè ge wèntí tài xiǎo le, wǒmen kěyǐ zànshí hūlüè tā.
  • English: This problem is too small; we can ignore it for now.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a strategic use of 忽略, meaning to consciously and temporarily set something aside as unimportant.
• Example 6:
  • 我的警告被管理层彻底忽略了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de jǐnggào bèi guǎnlǐcéng chèdǐ hūlüè le.
  • English: My warning was completely ignored by the management.
  • Analysis: The passive structure with 被 (bèi) is very common with 忽略, emphasizing that the subject (the warning) was the recipient of the action of being ignored.
• Example 7:
  • 不要因为孩子学习好就忽略他的心理健康。
  • Pinyin: Búyào yīnwèi háizi xuéxí hǎo jiù hūlüè tā de xīnlǐ jiànkāng.
  • English: Don't neglect a child's mental health just because they get good grades.
  • Analysis: A powerful example of 忽略 meaning “to neglect” in the context of care and well-being.
• Example 8:
  • 对不起，我一定是忽略了你的电子邮件。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ yídìng shì hūlüè le nǐ de diànzǐ yóujiàn.
  • English: I'm sorry, I must have overlooked your email.
  • Analysis: A polite way to apologize for an unintentional oversight. It sounds softer than saying “I forgot.”
• Example 9:
  • 很多人在享受城市便利的同时，忽略了环境污染问题。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén zài xiǎngshòu chéngshì biànlì de tóngshí, hūlüè le huánjìng wūrǎn wèntí.
  • English: While enjoying the convenience of the city, many people ignore the problem of environmental pollution.
  • Analysis: This usage refers to a broad, societal-level “ignoring” or “disregarding” of a major issue.
• Example 10:
  • 你不能忽略事实，即使它让你不舒服。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ bùnéng hūlüè shìshí, jíshǐ tā ràng nǐ bù shūfu.
  • English: You can't ignore the facts, even if they make you uncomfortable.
  • Analysis: Here, 忽略 means to willfully disregard reality.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 忽略 and other words related to inattention.

• 忽略 (hūlüè) vs. 不理 (bù lǐ):
  • 忽略 can be unintentional (overlook) or intentional (disregard). It's a broader term.
  • 不理 is almost always intentional, active, and often emotional. It means “to refuse to acknowledge,” “to give the cold shoulder,” or “to snub.” If you are angry at a friend, you 不理 them. You don't 忽略 them.
  • Incorrect: 我很生他的气，所以我忽略了他一天。 (Sounds unnatural. It implies you just didn't notice him for a day).
  • Correct: 我很生他的气，所以我一天都不理他。 (I was so mad at him that I gave him the cold shoulder all day).
• 忽略 (hūlüè) vs. 忘记 (wàngjì):
  • 忽略 means to overlook or fail to notice something that is present. The information was there, but you missed it.
  • 忘记 means to forget. The information is no longer in your memory.
  • Example: 你忽略了报告中的一个错误。 (You overlooked an error in the report. The error was there for you to see).
  • Example: 我忘记了报告的截止日期。 (I forgot the report's deadline. The date was not in my mind).

• 忽视 (hūshì) - A very close synonym for 忽略, often slightly more formal. It means to neglect or ignore.
• 无视 (wúshì) - To disregard defiantly; to treat as non-existent. This is a stronger and more confrontational way of ignoring something, like “to flout the rules.”
• 不理 (bù lǐ) - To pointedly ignore someone, often out of anger; to give the cold shoulder. More active and emotional than 忽略.
• 注意 (zhùyì) - The direct antonym: to pay attention to.
• 重视 (zhòngshì) - A strong antonym: to value, to attach great importance to.
• 忘记 (wàngjì) - To forget. A related but distinct concept.
• 马虎 (mǎhu) - An adjective meaning “careless” or “sloppy.” A 马虎 person is likely to 忽略 important details.
• 细节 (xìjié) - Details. The type of thing that is very often 忽略'd.
• 冷落 (lěngluò) - To give someone the cold shoulder, to leave someone out. Similar to 不理 but emphasizes making someone feel isolated.