believe

verb

相信 feel certain

1. 相信；认为真实
   to feel certain that sth is true or that sb is telling you the truth
   1. I don't believe you!
      我不相信你的话！
   2. I believed his lies for years.
      我很多年都对他的谎话信以为真。
   3. The man claimed to be a social worker and the old woman believed him.
      那个男人自称是社会福利工作者，老妇人信以为真。
   4. I find that hard to believe .
      我对此感到难以相信。
   5. Believe me, she's not right for you.
      相信我，她不适合你。
   6. Don't believe a word of it (= don't believe any part of what sb is saying) .
      一点也不要相信那些话。
   7. People used to believe (that) the earth was flat.
      人们一度认为地球是平的。
   8. He refused to believe (that) his son was involved in drugs.
      他不愿相信他的儿子沾染毒品。
   9. I do believe you're right (= I think sth is true, even though it is surprising).
      我的确相信你是对的。

认为有可能 think possible

2. 把（某事）当真；认为有可能
   to think that sth is true or possible, although you are not completely certain
   1. Police believe (that) the man may be armed.
      警方认为那个人可能携有武器。
   2. It is believed that the couple have left the country.
      据信那对夫妇已经离开了这个国家。
   3. The vases are believed to be worth over $20 000 each.
      那些花瓶据估计每个价值都超过2万元。
   4. ‘Where does she come from?’ ‘Spain, I believe.’
      “她是哪里人？”“我想是西班牙人。”
   5. ‘Does he still work there?’ ‘I believe so/not .’
      “他还在那里工作吗？”“我想是 / 不是。”
   6. Three sailors are missing, believed drowned.
      有三位船员失踪。相信是淹死了。

认定 have opinion

3. 认定；看作
   to have the opinion that sth is right or true
   1. The party believes (that) education is the most important issue facing the government.
      该党把教育视为政府面临的最重要的问题。

吃惊；恼怒 be surprised/annoyed

4. （表示对某事吃惊或恼怒）
   used to say that you are surprised or annoyed at sth
   1. She couldn't believe (that) it was all happening again.
      她简直无法相信整件事又在重演。
   2. I can't believe how much better I feel.
      真想不到我觉得好多了。

宗教 religion

5. 有宗教信仰
   to have a religious faith
   1. The god appears only to those who believe.
      信神如神在。

1. VERB 相信；认为
   If you believe that something is true, you think that it is true, but you are not sure.
   1. Experts believe that the coming drought will be extensive...
      专家们认为即将发生的旱灾将侵袭大片地区。
   2. I believe you have something of mine...
      我想你拿了我什么东西。
   3. The main problem, I believe, lies elsewhere...
      主要的问题，我认为，出在别的地方。
   4. We believe them to be hidden here in this apartment...
      我们相信他们就被藏在这套公寓里。
   5. 'You've never heard of him?' — 'I don't believe so.'
      “你从来没有听说过他？”——“我认为不是这样的。”
2. VERB 相信（某人或某人的话）
   If you believe someone or if you believe what they say or write, you accept that they are telling the truth.
   1. He did not sound as if he believed her...
      他听起来似乎并不相信她。
   2. Never believe anything a married man says about his wife...
      永远不要相信一个已婚男人说的任何有关他妻子的话。
   3. Don't believe what you read in the papers.
      不要相信报纸上看到的东西。
3. VERB 相信有…；认为…存在
   If you believe in fairies, ghosts, or miracles, you are sure that they exist or happen. If you believe in a god, you are sure of the existence of that god.
   1. I don't believe in ghosts...
      我不相信有鬼。
   2. Do you believe in magic?
      你相信魔法真的存在吗？
4. VERB 认为…是应该的（或正确的）
   If you believe in a way of life or an idea, you are in favour of it because you think it is good or right.
   1. He believed in marital fidelity.
      他认为婚内应该忠诚。
   2. ...decent candidates who believed in democracy.
      信奉民主政治的正派候选人
5. VERB 对…有信心；信任；信赖
   If you believe in someone or what they are doing, you have confidence in them and think that they will be successful.
   1. If you believe in yourself you can succeed.
      只要自信，就能成功。

Note that when you are using the verb believe with that-clause in order to state a negative opinion or belief, you normally make believe negative, rather than the verb. For instance, it is more usual to say 'He didn't believe she could do it...' than 'He believed she couldn't do it'. The same applies to other verbs with a similar meaning, such as consider, suppose, and think. I don't consider that you kept your promise... I don't suppose he ever saw it... I don't think he saw me.
注意，当 believe 和 that 从句连用陈述否定的观点或看法时，通常对 believe 而不是从句中的动词加以否定。例如，通常说 He didn't believe she could do it（他认为她做不到），而很少说 He believed she couldn't do it。同样的句型结构也适用于 consider, suppose 和 think 等意思相近的动词：I don't consider that you kept your promise（我认为你没有遵守诺言），I don't suppose he ever saw it（我想他从没见过它），I don't think he saw me（我认为他没有看到我）。

6. VERB （表示惊奇）难以置信
   Believe is used in expressions such as I can't believe how or it's hard to believe that in order to express surprise, for example because something bad has happened or something very difficult has been achieved.
   1. Many officers I spoke to found it hard to believe what was happening around them...
      很多和我谈过的官员都觉得发生在他们周围的事情令人难以置信。
   2. I was a physical and emotional wreck — I still can't believe how I ever got any work done.
      我那时身心俱疲——现在还难以相信我是怎么把一些事情做成的。
7. PHRASE （表示对所见所闻惊讶不已）相信自己的眼睛/耳朵
   If you say that you cannot believe your eyes or cannot believe your ears, you are emphasizing that you are very surprised about something you have seen or heard.
   1. I could not believe my eyes. She was far more beautiful than I had imagined.
      我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。她比我想象的漂亮多了。
8. PHRASE （强调刚才所述之事令人吃惊）信不信由你
   You can use believe it or not to emphasize that what you have just said is surprising.
   1. That's normal, believe it or not.
      那很正常，信不信由你。
9. PHRASE （强调对某事感到惊讶）你会相信吗？
   If you say would you believe it, you are emphasizing your surprise about something.
   1. And would you believe it, he's younger than me!
      你信吗？他比我年轻！
10. PHRASE （强调所述属实）相信我
    You can use believe you me to emphasize that what you are saying is true.
    1. It's absolutely amazing, believe you me.
       这太不可思议了，真的。

1. I was afraid that nobody would believe me
   我担心没有人会相信我。
2. Experts believe that the coming drought will be extensive
   专家们认为即将发生的旱灾将侵袭大片地区。
3. I believe you have something of mine
   我想你拿了我什么东西。
4. The main problem, I believe, lies elsewhere
   主要的问题，我认为，出在别的地方。
5. We believe them to be hidden here in this apartment
   我们相信他们就被藏在这套公寓里。
6. 'You've never heard of him?' — 'I don't believe so.'
   “你从来没有听说过他？”——“我认为不是这样的。”
7. He did not sound as if he believed her
   他听起来似乎并不相信她。
8. Never believe anything a married man says about his wife
   永远不要相信一个已婚男人说的任何有关他妻子的话。
9. Don't believe what you read in the papers.
   不要相信报纸上看到的东西。
10. I don't believe in ghosts
    我不相信有鬼。
11. Do you believe in magic?
    你相信魔法真的存在吗？
12. He believed in marital fidelity.
    他认为婚内应该忠诚。
13. If you believe in yourself you can succeed.
    只要自信，就能成功。
14. Many officers I spoke to found it hard to believe what was happening around them
    很多和我谈过的官员都觉得发生在他们周围的事情令人难以置信。
15. I was a physical and emotional wreck — I still can't believe how I ever got any work done.
    我那时身心俱疲——现在还难以相信我是怎么把一些事情做成的。
16. I could not believe my eyes. She was far more beautiful than I had imagined.
    我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛。她比我想象的漂亮多了。
17. That's normal, believe it or not.
    那很正常，信不信由你。
18. And would you believe it, he's younger than me!
    你信吗？他比我年轻！
19. It's absolutely amazing, believe you me.
    这太不可思议了，真的。
20. I believe that each of us can contribute to the future of the world
    我相信我们每一个人都能够对世界的未来有所贡献。
21. They truly believe they have dominion over us.
    他们真的以为他们对我们有统治权。
22. I'm looking for a child. I believe your husband can help me find her
    我在找一个小孩。我相信你丈夫可以帮我找到她。
23. We have had meaningful negotiations and I believe we are very close to a deal
    我们已进行了有益的磋商，我相信我们很快能成交。
24. I don't believe Lotte and I will ever be parted
    我相信洛特和我永远都不会分开。
25. We still can't quite believe he's here with us after all this time
    我们还是不太敢相信，过了这么久，他居然还和我们一起呆在这里。
26. We believe you represent everything British racing needs.
    我们相信你代表了英国赛马所需要的一切。
27. I don't believe he would tell Leo such a thing
    我不信他会告诉利奥这种事。
28. Believe me, it's the least I can do, a mere trifle.
    相信我，这是我最起码能做的了，只是小事一桩。
29. You're kidding me, I don't believe it.
    你这是哄我，我不信。
30. If you exaggerate, people will no longer believe you.
    如果你说话虚夸，人们便不会相信你了。

  think believe consider feel ponder regard【导航词义：认为，考虑】

  think v. 认为，考虑

〔辨析〕普通用词，不如 believe 正式，指细想或思考，也指按自己的思考提出看法、作出判断或得出结论，多用于个人喜好或生活中的实际情况。

  believe v. 认为，相信

〔辨析〕通常指依据一定的证据，经思考后认为属实，强调不完全肯定，多为主观上的猜测，不用进行时。

  consider v. 考虑，认为

〔辨析〕指在作出选择、决定等之前细想，也指经过仔细考虑、观察后而得出比较客观的看法。

  feel v. 认为，以为

〔辨析〕尤指根据感觉而不是事实来作出判断。

  ponder v. 〈正式〉仔细考虑，深思

〔辨析〕指对问题、难题、发生的事情等进行思考，强调全面、认真、细致，常后接介词 on/over/about。

  regard v. 认为，看作

〔辨析〕强调对某事的主观判断，多指看法，不用进行时。

believe in sb/sth

1. 相信某人（或事物）的存在
   to feel certain that sb/sth exists

believe in sb

1. 信赖；信任；相信某人会成功
   to feel that you can trust sb and/or that they will be successful

believe in sth

1. 认为某事好（或对、可接受）
   to think that sth is good, right or acceptable

believe sth of sb

1. 相信某人能干出某事
   to think that sb is capable of sth

v.

believe it or not

• 信不信由你
  used to introduce information that is true but that may surprise people
  1. Believe it or not, he asked me to marry him!
     信不信由你，他向我求婚！

believe (you) me

• 我敢保证
  used to emphasize that you strongly believe what you are saying
  1. You haven't heard the last of this, believe you me!
     我敢保证你没听说过最新的消息。

don't you believe it!

• 绝对不正确（不可相信）
  used to tell sb that sth is definitely not true

I don't believe it!

• （表示吃惊或不耐烦）我简直无法相信
  used to say that you are surprised or annoyed about sth
  1. I don't believe it! What are you doing here?
     我简直无法相信！你在这里干什么？

if you believe that, you'll believe anything

• 你要是连这都相信，还有什么不信的
  used to say that you think sb is stupid if they believe that sth is true

make believe (that…)

• 假装
  to pretend that sth is true

not believe your ears/eyes

• 不相信自己的耳朵（或眼睛）；对所闻（或所见）非常吃惊
  to be very surprised at sth you hear/see
  1. I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in.
     她走进来时我简直不相信自己的眼睛。

seeing is believing

• 眼见为实；百闻不如一见
  used to say that sb will have to believe that sth is true when they see it, although they do not think it is true now

would you believe (it)?

• （表示惊讶或气愤）你能相信吗
  used to show that you are surprised and annoyed about sth
  1. And, would you believe, he didn't even apologize!
     而且，可气的是，他连个道歉都没有！

you/you'd better believe it!

• 当然没错；千真万确
  used to tell sb that sth is definitely true

give sb to believe/understand (that)…

• 使某人相信；使某人作…理解
  to make sb believe/understand sth
  1. I was given to understand that she had resigned.
     我得知她已经辞职了。

verb

1. accept as true
   1. I believed his report
   2. We didn't believe his stories from the War
   3. She believes in spirits

2. credit with veracity
   1. You cannot believe this man
   2. Should we believe a publication like the National Enquirer?

3. follow a credo
   1. When you hear his sermons, you will be able to believe, too

4. judge or regard
   1. I think he is very smart
   2. I believe her to be very smart
   3. I think that he is her boyfriend
   4. The racist conceives such people to be inferior

   Synonym:    thinkconsiderconceive

5. be confident about something
   1. I believe that he will come back from the war

   Synonym:    trust