以为

以為
yǐwéi
verb HSK 2 #235

Meanings

  1. 1 to think (mistakenly)
  2. 2 to assume

Examples

HSK 1
Tā yǐwéi wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.
He assumed I was Chinese.
HSK 1
Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān bú shàngkè.
I thought there was no class today.
HSK 2
Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ yǐjīng zǒu le.
I thought you had already left.

Tips

mistakes
以为 implies the belief was WRONG. If the belief is correct, use 认为 or 觉得 instead.
grammar
以为……,没想到…… is a common pattern: 'I thought X, but it turned out Y.'

Stroke Order

wéi