ji5 wai4以為以为
Jyutpingji5 wai4
Yaleyíh wàih
Definition
To thoughtlessly or mistakenly assume; to wrongly believe.
colloquialdaily actionscommunication
How it's used
Expresses a discrepancy between a past expectation and the actual reality. It is frequently paired with the sentence-final particle 添 to emphasize the element of surprise or the realization that the initial assumption was incorrect. When used in a question, it often carries a sarcastic or challenging tone, implying that the listener's assumption is clearly wrong.
Examples
I thought he wasn't going to work today.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse it with 諗, which simply means to think or consider. Unlike 諗, 以為 specifically signals that the belief was mistaken or contrary to the facts.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
