yǐwéi: 以为 - To Think (mistakenly), To Assume

• Keywords: 以为, yiwei, yǐwéi, to think mistakenly, to assume Chinese, I thought that Chinese, 以为 vs 觉得, 以为 vs 认为, Chinese grammar, Chinese word for wrong assumption, HSK 3 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the crucial Chinese verb 以为 (yǐwéi), which means “to think” but with the strong implication that the thought was incorrect. This comprehensive guide explains how to use 以为 to talk about mistaken assumptions and misunderstandings. Discover its core meaning, grammar, cultural nuances, and see practical examples that contrast it with similar words like 觉得 (juéde) and 认为 (rènwéi), helping you avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yǐwéi
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 3
• Concise Definition: To assume, to suppose, or to think (implying the thought or assumption was incorrect).
• In a Nutshell: 以为 (yǐwéi) is the word you use when you want to say “I thought…” but are about to reveal that what you thought was wrong. It's not for expressing your current opinion. Instead, it's used to describe a past, mistaken belief. Think of it as the setup for a punchline where the punchline is reality. “I thought this, but it turns out that was true.”

• 以 (yǐ): This character can mean “to use,” “to take,” or “by means of.” In this context, think of it as “to take as…” or “to use as a basis for thought.”
• 为 (wéi): This character means “to be,” “to act as,” or “to become.”

When combined, 以为 (yǐwéi) literally means “to take (something) to be (something else).” This perfectly captures the essence of making an assumption or forming a belief that doesn't align with reality. You “took” a situation “to be” a certain way, but you were mistaken.

While 以为 (yǐwéi) isn't a deep cultural concept like 关系 (guānxi), its usage reveals a subtle aspect of Chinese communication: the preference for indirectness and face-saving. Admitting you were wrong can be face-losing. Saying “我错了 (wǒ cuò le)” (I was wrong) is very direct. However, saying “我以为… (wǒ yǐwéi…)” (I thought that…) is a softer, more indirect way to admit a mistake. It frames the error as a simple misunderstanding or a faulty thought process rather than a personal failure. This is similar to how an English speaker might say, “I was under the impression that the meeting was at 3,” instead of the more blunt, “I got the time wrong.” It gently corrects the record without putting anyone on the spot, including oneself. This makes 以为 (yǐwéi) a very common and useful tool in everyday social interactions for navigating minor misunderstandings smoothly.

以为 (yǐwéi) is extremely common in daily conversation, from casual chats to office discussions. Its primary function is to express a past assumption that has been proven false. The most common sentence structure is: `[Subject] + 以为 + [Incorrect Assumption], + [Connector] + [The Reality].` Common connectors include:

• 但是 (dànshì) - but
• 其实 (qíshí) - actually, in fact
• 结果 (jiéguǒ) - as a result, it turned out
• 没想到 (méi xiǎngdào) - unexpectedly, didn't expect

You will see it constantly in situations where plans change, information is clarified, or a person's initial impression is corrected.

• Example 1:
• 我以为今天星期天，其实是星期六。
• Pinyin: Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān xīngqītiān, qíshí shì xīngqīliù.
• English: I thought today was Sunday, but it's actually Saturday.
• Analysis: A classic example of a simple, everyday mistake. 以为 sets up the incorrect belief, and 其实 (qíshí) introduces the reality.
• Example 2:
• 她以为她男朋友会来，结果他没来。
• Pinyin: Tā yǐwéi tā nánpéngyou huì lái, jiéguǒ tā méi lái.
• English: She thought her boyfriend would come, but in the end, he didn't.
• Analysis: Here, 以为 expresses an expectation that was not met. 结果 (jiéguǒ) is used to state the outcome that contradicted the assumption.
• Example 3:
• 我们都以为这次考试会很难，没想到这么简单。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu yǐwéi zhè cì kǎoshì huì hěn nán, méi xiǎngdào zhème jiǎndān.
• English: We all thought this exam would be very difficult; we didn't expect it to be so easy.
• Analysis: This shows 以为 can be used for assumptions that turn out to be pleasantly surprising. The key is that the initial thought was wrong.
• Example 4:
• 对不起，我以为你是王老师。
• Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ yǐwéi nǐ shì Wáng lǎoshī.
• English: Sorry, I thought you were Teacher Wang.
• Analysis: A perfect way to apologize for mistaking someone's identity. It's polite and explains the source of the error.
• Example 5:
• 我还以为你不喜欢吃辣的呢！
• Pinyin: Wǒ hái yǐwéi nǐ bù xǐhuān chī là de ne!
• English: And here I was thinking you didn't like spicy food!
• Analysis: The 还 (hái) adds a tone of surprise. The speaker is watching the person eat spicy food, which contradicts their previous assumption. The 呢 (ne) adds a casual, conversational feel.
• Example 6:
• 他以为有钱就能买到一切，后来才发现他错了。
• Pinyin: Tā yǐwéi yǒu qián jiù néng mǎidào yīqiè, hòulái cái fāxiàn tā cuò le.
• English: He thought money could buy everything, only later did he realize he was wrong.
• Analysis: 以为 can be used to describe a naive or profound philosophical mistake that a person later grows out of.
• Example 7:
• 你别以为我不知道你在想什么。
• Pinyin: Nǐ bié yǐwéi wǒ bù zhīdào nǐ zài xiǎng shénme.
• English: Don't think for a second that I don't know what you're thinking.
• Analysis: This is a common negative/imperative form. It's a warning or a challenge, telling someone that their assumption (that their thoughts are secret) is wrong.
• Example 8:
• 我以为我的钱包丢了，找了半天才发现它在我的口袋里。
• Pinyin: Wǒ yǐwéi wǒ de qiánbāo diū le, zhǎo le bàntiān cái fāxiàn tā zài wǒ de kǒudài li.
• English: I thought I had lost my wallet; after searching for a long time, I discovered it was in my pocket.
• Analysis: This sentence describes the panic and relief of a mistaken belief. 以为 perfectly captures the mental state during the period of a false assumption.
• Example 9:
• 刚来中国的时候，我以为所有汉字都和图画一样。
• Pinyin: Gāng lái Zhōngguó de shíhou, wǒ yǐwéi suǒyǒu hànzì dōu hé túhuà yīyàng.
• English: When I first came to China, I thought all Chinese characters were like pictures.
• Analysis: A great sentence for learners to describe their own past, naive assumptions about China or the language.
• Example 10:
• 经理以为这个项目很简单，实际上遇到了很多问题。
• Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yǐwéi zhège xiàngmù hěn jiǎndān, shíjìshang yùdào le hěn duō wèntí.
• English: The manager assumed this project would be simple; in reality, it ran into many problems.
• Analysis: Shows how 以为 is used in a business context to describe misjudgments in planning.

The most critical mistake learners make is confusing 以为 (yǐwéi) with 觉得 (juéde) and 认为 (rènwéi).

• Rule of Thumb: If what you think is still your current opinion, or if it turned out to be true, DO NOT use 以为.
• 以为 (yǐwéi) vs. 觉得 (juéde):
  • 以为 (yǐwéi): Incorrect past thought. “I thought (wrongly) the movie started at 8.”
  • 觉得 (juéde): Current subjective feeling or opinion. “I feel (or think) this movie is great.”
  • Incorrect: `我以为这部电影很好看。` (This implies you thought it would be good, but you watched it and it was bad.)
  • Correct: `我觉得这部电影很好看。` (I think this movie is great.)
• 以为 (yǐwéi) vs. 认为 (rènwéi):
  • 以为 (yǐwéi): Incorrect past thought. “I thought (wrongly) his idea was bad.”
  • 认为 (rènwéi): A more formal, considered opinion or belief. “I believe (and still believe) that his idea is good.”
  • Incorrect: `我以为你应该努力学习。` (This implies you used to think this but now you don't.)
  • Correct: `我认为你应该努力学习。` (I believe you should study hard.)

• 觉得 (juéde) - To feel; to think. A subjective opinion that does not carry the implication of being right or wrong.
• 认为 (rènwéi) - To believe; to hold an opinion. A more formal and considered belief than `觉得`.
• 误会 (wùhuì) - To misunderstand; a misunderstanding. This is often the result of an incorrect `以为` thought process.
• 搞错 (gǎo cuò) - To get something wrong; to make a mistake. Refers to the action of being wrong, while `以为` refers to the mistaken mental state.
• 其实 (qíshí) - Actually; in fact. The perfect word to introduce the reality that contradicts the `以为` clause.
• 原来 (yuánlái) - As it turns out; originally. Used to express a sudden realization that corrects a previous assumption, often with a tone of surprise.
• 当成 (dàngchéng) - To regard as; to treat as (often mistakenly). e.g., 我把他当成你了 (Wǒ bǎ tā dàngchéng nǐ le) - “I mistook him for you.” Very similar in concept to `以为`.
• 没想到 (méi xiǎngdào) - Didn't expect; unexpectedly. A common way to express the surprise when reality proves your assumption wrong.