Comparing "renwei" and "yiwei"

认为 (rènwéi) and 以为 (yǐwéi) are both verbs that mean "to think" in terms of "to consider" or "to deem" something to be true or false. Both are used in both informal and formal contexts and sometimes can be used interchangeably. However, only 认为 is often used to mean "in my opinion." Only 以为 is used to describe a situation in which you thought something to be true or correct, but in reality it wasn't.

B1HSK4ASV4567

	认为 (rènwéi)	以为 (yǐwéi)
Meaning	to think	to think mistakenly
Part of Speech	verb	verb (mostly)
Formality	flexible	flexible

:Yes

认为 means "to think"

认为 is somewhat more formal than 觉得, but means the same thing.

• 我 认为 你 的 西班牙语 很 好。Wǒ rènwéi nǐ de Xībānyáyǔ hěn hǎo.I think your Spanish is very good.
• 我 认为 这件 事情 你 应该 负责。Wǒ rènwéi rènwéi zhèjiàn shìqing nǐ yīnggāi fùzé.I think this is something you should be responsible for.
• 很 多 人 认为 成功 就 是 有 很 多 钱。Hěn duō rén rènwéi chénggōng jiù shì yǒu hěn duō qián.A lot of people think success is having a lot of money.
• 从 这个 角度 来说，我 认为 规定 很 重要。Cóng zhège jiǎodù láishuō, wǒ rènwéi guīdìng hěn zhòngyào.From that point of view, I think the regulations are important.

以为 can mean "mistakenly believed"

以为 is used to describe a situation in which you thought something was true or correct, but later found out that was not the case.

Example sentences

In the following examples only 认为 can be used.

• 我 以为 今天 会 下雨，但是 没有 下。 Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān huì xiàyǔ, dànshì méiyǒu xià.I thought it would rain today, but it didn't.
• 来 中国 以前，我 以为 中国 菜 很 难吃。Lái Zhōngguó yǐqián, Wǒ yǐwéi Zhōngguó cài hěn nánchī.Before I came to China, I thought Chinese food was bad.
• 他们 以为 你 是 美国人，原来 你 是 加拿大人。Tāmen yǐwéi nǐ shì Měiguórén, yuánlái nǐ shì Jiānádàrén.They thought you were American, but it turns out you are Canadian.
• 我 以为 今天 是 星期六，原来 今天 是 星期五。Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān shì xīngqīliù, yuánlái jīntiān shì xīngqīwǔ.I thought it was Saturday, but it turned out to be Friday.
• 我 以为 这杯 水 是 热 的，其实 这杯 水 是 冷 的。Wǒ yǐwéi zhèbēi shuǐ shì rè de, qíshí zhèbēi shuǐ shì lěng de.I thought the glass of water was hot, but it was cold.
• 大家 以为 你 下午 才 过来，没 想 到 你 会 这么 早 就 到 了。 Dàjiā yǐwéi nǐ xiàwǔ cái guòlái, méi xiǎng dào nǐ huì zhème zǎo jiù dào le.People thought you were coming in the afternoon, but I didn't expect you to be here so early.
• 她 以为 今天 是 上午 十 点 上课，其实 是 下午 三 点 上课。Tā yǐwéi jīntiān shì shàngwǔ shí diǎn shàngkè, qíshí shì xiàwǔ sān diǎn shàngkè.She thought it was a 10am class today, but it's actually a 3pm class.

To say "to think" or "to consider" many times both 认为 and 以为 can be used interchangeably

Common Phrases

In the following examples both 认为 and 以为 can be used.

• 我 认为 / 以为wǒ rènwéi / yǐwéiI think that
• 你 认为 / 以为nǐ rènwéi / yǐwéiyou think that
• 认为 / 以为 ... 很好rènwéi / yǐwéi ... hěn hǎosomeone thinks that ... very good
• 认为 / 以为 ... 很不错rènwéi / yǐwéi ... hěn bùcuòsomeone thinks that ... it's good
• 认为 / 以为 ... 可以rènwéi / yǐwéi ... kěyǐsomeone thinks that ... it's fine

Example sentences

• 我 以为 她 现在 过 得 很 好。 Wǒ yǐwéi tā xiànzài guo de hěn hǎo.I thought she was doing well now.
• 我 认为 她 下个 月 可以 回来。 Wǒ rènwéi tā xiàge yuè kěyǐ huílái.I thought she could come back next month.
• 你 以为 我 忘 了，是 不 是？ Nǐ yǐwéi wǒ wàng le, shì bù shì?You think I've forgotten, don't you?
• 我 认为 你 今天 不 来 开 会 了。 Wǒ rènwéi nǐ jīntiān bù lái kāi huì le.I thought you weren't coming to the meeting today.
• 我 以为 你 喜欢 喝 苦 的 咖啡。 Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ xǐhuan hē kǔ de kāfēi.I thought you liked bitter coffee.
• 我 认为 这个 老师 很 不错。 Wǒ rènwéi zhège lǎoshī hěn bùcuò.I thought the teacher was nice.

To say “in my opinion” use 认为

Example sentences

• 我 认为 中国 菜 很 好吃。 Wǒ rènwéi Zhōngguó cài hěn hǎochī.I think Chinese food is good.
• 我 认为 他 不 是 一 个 好 的 总统。 Wǒ rènwéi tā bù shì yī gè hǎo de zǒngtǒng.I don't think he's a good president.
• 你 认为 经验 和 能力 哪个 重要？ Nǐ rènwéi jīngyàn hé nénglì nǎge zhòngyào?Which do you think is more important, experience or ability?
• 我 认为 好 的 演讲 应该 是 让 人 感动 的。 Wǒ rènwéi hǎo de yǎnjiǎng yīnggāi shì ràng rén gǎndòng de.I think a good speech should move people.
• 我 认为 抽烟 是 一 个 坏 习惯，很 不 健康。 Wǒ rènwéi chōuyān shì yī gè huài xíguàn, hěn bù jiànkāng.I think smoking is a bad habit and very unhealthy.
• 你 认为 法国 队 的 优势 和 劣势 分别 是 什么？ Nǐ rènwéi Fǎguó duì de yōushì hé lièshì fēnbié shì shénme?What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the French team?

Websites

“以为”和“认为” https://zhidao.baidu.com/question/653992511686170765.html