Ch 27 · Lesson 8Mandarin · Chapter 27 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
The 以 family: 以为, thought wrongly
says the belief turned out wrong: , I thought you'd gone. For a view you still hold, or .
The short version
。Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jīntiān bù lái.
Why?Hide
(yǐwéi) is 'thought', and it usually tells the listener the belief turned out wrong, so you need not add 'but I was wrong'. For a view you still hold, use (rènwéi), believe, or (juéde), feel.
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| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| yǐwéi | thought (wrongly) | speech |
| yǐjí | and, as well as | written |
| yǐbiàn | so that | written |
免 | yǐmiǎn | so as not to | written |
| yǐlái | since (up to now) | formal |
…… | yǐ…wéi… | take X as Y | written |
- 以为 yǐwéi: said every day
- 以来 yǐlái: news and careful speech
- 以及, 以便, 以免, 以…为…: writing
The same (yǐ) sits inside words you already know: (kěyǐ), can; (suǒyǐ), so; (yǐqián), before; (yǐhòu), after.
以为 (yǐwéi): I thought, wrongly
(yǐwéi) usually says the belief turned out to be wrong. You do not need to add "but I was wrong": the word says it.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ jīntiān bù lái. | I thought you weren't coming today |
，。 | Wǒ yǐwéi tā shì lǎoshī, yuánlái tā shì xuéshēng. | I thought he was the teacher; he's a student |
？ | Nǐ yǐwéi wǒ bù zhīdào ma? | Did you think I didn't know? |
With (hái) in front, it sounds like English "and there was me thinking": (wǒ hái yǐwéi nǐ zǒu le), and there was me thinking you'd gone.
以为 (yǐwéi), 认为 (rènwéi) or 觉得 (juéde)?
All three translate as "think". Only (yǐwéi) says you were wrong:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān bú shàngkè. | I thought there was no class (there was) |
。 | Wǒ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo. | I believe this method is best |
。 | Wǒ juéde jīntiān yǒudiǎn lěng. | I feel it's a bit cold today |
(rènwéi) states a considered view; (juéde) is a feeling or an impression. Say (wǒ yǐwéi zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo) and your listener waits for the "but". Formal and older writing still uses for a plain "consider", so you will meet it there without the mistake: ， (wǒmen yǐwéi, zhège bànfǎ zuì hǎo), in a report, we consider this method the best.
Going further: 以便 (yǐbiàn) and 以免 (yǐmiǎn): so that, so as not to and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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