Meaning
以为 means to think or believe something, often implying that the belief turned out to be wrong or mistaken. It conveys an assumption or impression that may not match reality. Unlike 认为 (to think/consider), 以为 carries a nuance of misunderstanding or incorrect judgment.
Usage
Native speakers use 以为 when describing what they or others incorrectly thought was true. It's commonly followed by statements that are contradicted by reality, often appearing with 原来 (it turns out) to show the contrast between assumption and truth. Common in past tense contexts describing misunderstandings.
Examples
- 01我以为你不来了，原来你只是迟到了。, .I thought you weren't coming, but it turns out you were just late.
- 02他还以为这次考试很容易，结果没及格。, .He thought this exam would be easy, but he ended up failing.
Characters
Common collocations
- 我以为I thought (mistakenly)
- 还以为still thought, even thought
- 原来...以为...it turned out... (I) thought
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 以 (by means of) and 为 (to regard as), literally meaning 'to regard as' or 'to take to be'. The classical usage evolved to emphasize subjective belief that may differ from objective reality.