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 be used in 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 一直 认为 我 是 幸运 的。Wǒ yīzhí rènwéi wǒ shì xìngyùn de.I always thought I was lucky.
• 我 认为 这件 事情 你 做 的 不 对。Wǒ rènwéi zhèjiàn shìqing nǐ zuò de bù duì.I don't think this is something you've done right.
• 他 认为 这个 会 开 得 很 好。Tā rènwéi zhège huì kāi de hěn hǎo.He thought the meeting went well.
• 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。
• 大家以为你下午才过来，没想到你会这么早就到了。
• 她以为今天是上午十点上课，其实是下午三点上课。

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～
• 你～
• ～很好
• ～很不错
• ～可以

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.
• 我 以为 我 忘 了，是 不 是？ Wǒ 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