以为 (yǐ wéi) — to think (often mistakenly), to be under the im…

Definition

以为 means 'to think/assume' — usually wrongly. Unlike 认为, it implies the belief turned out to be mistaken.

verb

to think (often mistakenly)to be under the impression (that…)

以为，。
Wǒ yǐ wéi nǐ zǒu le, méi xiǎng dào nǐ hái zài.
I thought you had left, but I didn't expect you were still here.
以为，。
Tā yǐ wéi zì jǐ shì duì de, dàn shì bú duì.
He thought he was right, but he wasn't.
以为，。
Wǒ men yǐ wéi tā bú huì tóng yì, dàn shì tā shuō kě yǐ.
We thought she wouldn't agree, but she said yes.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

以yǐconsider

为wèiconsider

以 (consider) and 为 (consider) are near-synonymous parts that together mean to think something is so.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

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.

Appears in