误认为

誤認為

wùrènwéi

verb #33,140

Meanings

1 to mistakenly believe (that...); to wrongly assume (that...)
2 to mistake X for Y

Characters

mistake; wrongly

to recognize; identify

to be (literary copula)

Examples

HSK 3

我误认为他是新来的同事。

Wǒ wùrènwéi tā shì xīn lái de tóngshì.

I mistakenly thought he was a new colleague.

HSK 7-9

她常被误认为是双胞胎中的妹妹。

Tā cháng bèi wùrènwéi shì shuāngbāotāi zhōng de mèimei.

She is often mistaken for the younger of the twins.

HSK 7-9

很多人误认为吃巧克力会让人长痘。

Hěnduō rén wùrènwéi chī qiǎokèlì huì ràng rén zhǎng dòu.

Many people mistakenly believe that eating chocolate causes pimples.

Tips

grammar

误认为 takes a clausal complement: 误认为 + [statement / identity]. Pattern: 把 X 误认为 Y = 'mistake X for Y'; 被 X 误认为 Y = 'be mistaken by X for Y.' 为 here is the literary copula 'to be' (as in 以为, 认为) - not 'because' or 'for.'

memory

Three-character compound built from 误 (wrongly) + 认 (recognize) + 为 (to be). It's the cognitive twin of 认为 (to think / believe): 认为 = think it is X; 误认为 = wrongly think it is X.

Stroke Order

误 wù

认 rèn

为 wéi