以为

以為

yǐwéi

verb HSK 2 #235

Meanings

1 to think (mistakenly)
2 to assume

Characters

Examples

我以为你已经走了。

Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ yǐjīng zǒu le.

I thought you had already left.

他以为我是中国人。

Tā yǐwéi wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.

He assumed I was Chinese.

我以为今天不上课。

Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān bú shàngkè.

I thought there was no class today.

Tips

mistakes

以为 implies the belief was WRONG. If the belief is correct, use 认为 or 觉得 instead.

grammar

我以为……，没想到…… is a common pattern: 'I thought X, but it turned out Y.'

Stroke Order

以 yǐ

为 wéi