以为 (yǐ wéi) — to mistakenly believe in Mandarin
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#590 most common word · HSK 3 · CEFR B1
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
以为 is pronounced yǐ wéi. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Wǒ yǐwéi nǐ búláile.
I thought you weren't coming.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 以为 mean?+
以为 (yǐ wéi) means "to mistakenly believe" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 以为?+
以为 is pronounced yǐ wéi. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 以为 in Mandarin?+
以为 is the #590 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 以为 fits
Every HSK 3 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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