🤔 认为 rènwéi vs 觉得 juéde – What’s the Difference?

Both mean “to think,” but they’re not the same!

In Chinese, the difference between 认为 and 觉得 isn’t really about grammar — it’s about tone, logic, and confidence. 

Let’s break it down with simple rules and examples. 🧠💬

🔍  Breakdown

🟡 觉得 (juéde) – to feel / to think

• Often used in spoken Chinese

• Based on personal feeling or casual opinion

• More subjective, more relaxed

📌 Think: “I feel like…” or “I personally think…”

🟢 认为 (rènwéi) – to think / to believe

• Often used in formal speech or writing

• Based on reasoning or judgment

• More objective or logical-sounding

📌 Think: “I believe that…” or “In my opinion…”

💬  Easy Examples

🟡 觉得 (juéde) – “I feel…”

Example 1:

我觉得今天有点冷。

(Wǒ juéde jīntiān yǒudiǎn lěng.)

👉 I feel it’s a bit cold today.

Example 2:

我觉得这个电影很好看。

(Wǒ juéde zhège diànyǐng hěn hǎokàn.)

👉 I think this movie is really good.

📝 These are casual, personal opinions — perfect for 觉得 (juéde).

🟢 认为 (rènwéi) – “I think / believe…”

Example 1:

我认为这个决定是对的。

(Wǒ rènwéi zhège juédìng shì duì de.)

👉 I believe this decision is correct.

Example 2:

很多人认为中文很难。

(Hěn duō rén rènwéi Zhōngwén hěn nán.)

👉 Many people think Chinese is hard.

📝 These feel more formal or logical — 认为 (rènwéi) is better.

🎯  Try It Yourself!

Choose the better word: 觉得 (juéde) or 认为 (rènwéi)

1. 我_______这个老师很有意思。

(Wǒ ______ zhège lǎoshī hěn yǒuyìsi.)

👉 I think this teacher is interesting.

✅ Correct answer: 觉得

2. 他_______我们需要一个新计划。

(Tā ______ wǒmen xūyào yí ge xīn jìhuà.)

👉 He thinks we need a new plan.

✅ Correct answer: 认为

3. 我_______他不会来了。

(Wǒ ______ tā bú huì lái le.)

👉 I don’t think he’s coming.

✅ Correct answer: 觉得

4. 很多人_______应该保护环境。

(Hěn duō rén ______ yīnggāi bǎohù huánjìng.)

👉 Many people believe we should protect the environment.

✅ Correct answer: 认为

🚀 Final Tip

📌 Use 觉得 (juéde) for:

• Feelings, opinions, casual thoughts

• Spoken Chinese

• Personal experiences

📌 Use 认为 (juéde) for:

• Judgments, logic, or argument

• Formal writing or speech

• Public opinions or essays

✍️ Try writing two sentences:

• One with 觉得 (casual opinion)

• One with 认为 (logical belief)

Practice makes progress! 加油！💪

Just one word can flip your meaning — don’t miss the rest of the series! 👉 check them out here! 😄📘