认为 (rèn wéi) — to think, to believe, to consider

Definition

A more formal, written way to say 'to think / to consider', used for opinions and judgments. Stronger and more deliberate than 觉得; 以为 implies the view is wrong.

verb
to thinkto believeto consider

Examples

  • 认为。
    Wǒ rèn wéi zhè ge dá àn shì zhèng què de.
    I think this answer is correct.
  • 认为。
    Tā rèn wéi zhè ge wèn tí hěn zhòng yào.
    He thinks this question is very important.
  • 认为？
    Nǐ rèn wéi wǒ men yīng gāi zěn me zuò?
    What do you think we should do?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

认rènrecognize
为wèiconsider

认 means recognize and 为 means consider, together think or believe.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
讠Written in full as言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén认rèn
Same sound today

The left part 讠 shows speech, and the right part 人 gives the sound.

Open 认 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 31000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsThinking & Cognition2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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