Nǐ hǎo 你好！

A quick question first: how do you say “I think” in Chinese? 以为？认为？

It is probably not easy for you to understand similar Chinese words such as “认为”(rènwéi), “以为”(yǐwéi) by yourself without guidance, especially when you may have been told that they can all be translated into “think” in English. Actually, there are many words that has slightly different meanings in Chinese, though they all say “think” in English.

认为(rènwéi) vs 以为(yǐwéi)

认为：To express a judgment after careful analysis and thought.

Structure Pronoun/Name of a person/essay/meeting etc. + 认为 + other elements
e.g.
文章认为保护地球，人人有责。
(Wénzhānɡ rènwéi bǎohù dìqiú, rénrén yǒu
zé.)
The essay reads that protecting the earth is
the responsibility of everyone.

Collocation 1. 被(bèi)（……）认为……
e.g.
听音乐被认为是学习汉语的好方
法之一。
(Tīnɡ yīnyuè bèi rènwéi shì xuéxí hànyǔ
de hǎo fānɡfǎ zhī yī.)
Listening to music is recognized as one
of the good ways to study Chinese.
2. Can use “ 坚 决 ”(jiān jué), “ 坚
持”(jiān chí) to decorate “认为”.
3. Can use Demonstrative Pronoun
“ 这 样 ”(zhèyànɡ) or “ 这 么 ”
(zhème) to decorate “ 认 为 ”,
making a stress and replacing
the content after the Verb.
e.g.
如果你坚持这么认为，我也没办
法。
(Rúguǒ nǐ jiānchí zhème rènwéi, wǒ yě
méi bànfǎ.)
I can’t help it if you insist thinking so

以为：To express subjective judgment, and this judgment usually is contrary to a fact.

Pronoun/Name of a person + 以为 + other elements
e.g.
我以为他不想去，其实他一直就
想去。
(Wǒ yǐwéi tā bù xiǎnɡ qù, qíshí tā yìzhí
jiù xiǎnɡ qù.)
I thought he didn’t want to go, but
actually he wanted to go all this time.

1. 让(rànɡ)……以为……
e.g.
他的话让我以为他不喜欢我。
(Tā dehuà ràng wǒ yǐwéi tā bù
xǐhuān wǒ.)
His words made me think he didn’t
like me.
2. Can use “还” and “一直” to
decorate “以为” to form “还
以为”(hái yǐ wéi) and “一直
以为”(yìzhí yǐwéi).
e.g.
我还一直以为你们是朋友，原
来你们不认识。
(Wǒ huán yīzhí yǐwéi nǐmen shì
péngyǒu, yuánlái nǐmen bù rènshì.)
I always thought you were friends,
but it turned out that you didn’t
know each other.

Do you know how to use them now? Let’s do some practice! Please fill in the
blanks with “认为” or “以为” to complete the sentences.
1. I think we should have another discussion on it.
我______这件事应该再讨论讨论。
(Wǒ _____ zhè jiàn shì yīnɡɡāi zài tǎolùn tǎolun.)
2. I don’t think so.
我不这么______。
(Wǒ bú zhème ______.)
3. What he has done makes me think he wants to go to China.
他这样做让我_____他想去中国。
(Tā zhèyànɡ zuò rànɡ wǒ _______ tā xiǎnɡ qù Zhōnɡɡuó.)
4. We had thought for a long time that he was Chinese, but in fact he was Korean
我们一直______他是中国人，但实际上他是韩国人。
(Wǒmen yìzhí _______ tā shì Zhōnɡɡuó rén，dàn shíjìshànɡ tā shì Hánɡuó rén.)
5. I had thought he would not come to my birthday party.
我还_____他不会来参加我的生日聚会了呢。
(Wǒ hái ______tā bú huì lái cānjiā wǒde shēnɡrì jùhuì le ne.)
6. I think we should obey the order of the manager.
我______我们应该遵守经理的命令。
(Wǒ ______ wǒmen yīnɡɡāi zūn shǒu jīnɡlǐ de mìnɡlìnɡ.)
7. He insists that our firm should not take Plan A.
他坚决______公司不应该采取方案 A。
(Tā jiānjué _______ ɡōnɡsī bù yīnɡɡāi cáiqǔ fānɡ’àn A.)
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Key:
1. 我认为这件事应该再讨论讨论。
2. 我不这么认为。
3. 他这样做让我以为他想去中国。
4. 我们一直以为他是中国人，但实际上他是韩国人。
5. 我还以为他不会来参加我的生日聚会了呢。
6. 我认为我们应该遵守经理的命令。
7. 他坚决认为公司不应该采取方案 A。