Grammar · Chapter 23
认为 and 以为: believe and wrongly think
认为 = I believe · 以为 = I thought, but not so
认为 is “to hold that”, your opinion: 我认为这个办法很好. 以为 is “thought that…”, and it turned out false: 我以为你不来了 “I thought you weren't coming (but you did)”. With no mistake, use 认为 or 觉得.
Examples
- 我认为这个办法很好。 Wǒ rènwéi zhège bànfǎ hěn hǎo. I think this is a good way.
- 我以为他是中国人，他说他不是。 Wǒ yǐwéi tā shì Zhōngguó rén, tā shuō tā bú shì. I thought he was Chinese, but he says he isn't.
- 我以为你不来了。 Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ bù lái le. I thought you weren't coming.