以为(yǐwéi) vs 认为(rènwéi)

以为(yǐwéi) vs 认为(rènwéi)

1. 以为 and 认为 both mean think, consider, or deem, indicating making a comment or judgement.

But 以为 usually makes a judgement in a lighter tone. And the conclusion after 以为 is often not true. In this case, a few degree adverbs such as 满、很 can be added before 以为.

e.g.

我以为你不回来了呢。(Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ bù huílái le ne.) I thought you were not coming back.

你们以为这件事我什么都不知道吗？(Nǐmen yǐwéi zhè jiàn shì wǒ shénme dōu bù zhīdào ma?) Do you think I know nothing about this?

我还以为今天会下雨呢，没想到是个大晴天。(Wǒ hái yǐwéi jīntiān huì xià yǔ ne, méi xiǎngdào shìgè dà qíngtiān.) I thought it would rain today, but I didn’t expect it to be a sunny day.

 

我很以为自己是对的，结果还是错了。(Wǒ hěn yǐwéi zìjǐ shì duì de, jiéguǒ háishì cuòle.) I thought I was right, but it turned out to be wrong.

大家满以为你再也不会来了，谁知你又来了。(Dàjiā mǎn yǐwéi nǐ zài yě bù huì láile, shéi zhī nǐ yòu láile.) Everyone thought you would never come again, who knew you would come again.

认为 often gives a positive opinion according to a certain objective reflection and reasoning.

e.g.

他认为他才是冠军。(Tā rènwéi tā cái shì ɡuànjūn.) He thinks he is the champion.

他们认为这件事是我的错。(Tāmen rènwéi zhè jiàn shì shì wǒ de cuò.) They thought it was my fault.

我们认为你应该跟她道歉。(Wǒmen rènwéi nǐ yīnggāi gēn tā dàoqiàn.) We think you should apologize to her.

2. 被 can be used before 认为, while only 让 can be used before 以为.

e.g.

√ 被(……)认为  (bèi(……)rènwéi)

✘ 被(……)以为  (bèi(……)yǐwéi)

游泳被家长们认为是一项必备技能。(Yóuyǒng bèi jiāzhǎngmen rènwéi shì yī xiàng bì bèi jìnéng.) Swimming is considered an essential skill by parents.

他被认为是这座城市的英雄。(Tā bèi rènwéi shì zhè zuò chéngshì de yīngxióng.) He is considered the hero of this city.

 

√ 让……以为  (rànɡ……yǐwéi)

✘ 让……认为  (rànɡ……yǐwéi)

你的表情让大家以为你不喜欢这个食物。(Nǐ de biǎoqíng ràng dàjiā yǐwéi nǐ bù xǐhuān zhège shíwù.) Your expression makes people think you don’t like this food.

他的汉语让我以为他是个中国人。(Tā de hànyǔ ràng wǒ yǐwéi tā shìgè Zhōngguó rén.) His Chinese makes me think he is Chinese.