believe
v
1 [Tn, Tw] feel sure of the truth of (sth); accept the statement of (sb) as true 相信(某事物)的真實性; 認為(某人)的話屬實
I believe him/what he says. 我相信他[他的話].
I'm innocent, please believe me. 我是無辜的, 請相信我吧.
I'll believe it/that when I see it, ie Until I have evidence, I remain sceptical. 我親眼見到才能相信(尚無證據, 我仍有懷疑).
I'm told he's been in prison, and I can well believe it, ie it doesn't surprise me. 有人對我說他進過監獄, 我完全能夠相信這一點.
2 [Tf, Tw, Tnt]
think (perhaps mistakenly); suppose 認為, 以為(容或有誤); 設想
People used to believe (that) the world was flat. 過去人們以為地球是扁的.
Nobody will believe what difficulty we have had/believe how difficult it has been for us. 誰也想像不到我們遇到了什麼樣的困難[這對我們來說一直是多麼困難].
They believed him to be insane. 他們認為他瘋了.
I believe it to have been a mistake. 我認為這一直就是錯的.
Mr Smith, I believe, ie I presume you are Mr Smith. 我想您就是史密斯先生吧.
`Is he coming?' `I believe so/not.' `他來嗎?'`我想他來[不來].'
3 [I] have religious faith 具有宗教信仰
He thinks that everyone who believes will go to heaven. 他認為凡是信神者都將進天堂.
4 (idm 習語) be,lieve it or `not it may sound surprising but it is true 信不信由你
Believe it or not, we were left waiting in the rain for two hours. 信不信由你, 我們冒雨一直等了兩個小時. be,lieve (you) `me I assure you 我向你保證
Believe you me, the government won't meddle with the tax system. 我向你保證, 政府絕不會干預稅收制度的. give sb to believe/understand => give1. lead sb to believe => lead3. make believe (that...) pretend 假裝
The boys made believe (that) they were astronauts. 男孩兒們假扮成航天員. Cf 參看 make-believe (make1). not be,lieve one's `ears/`eyes be unable to believe that what one hears or sees is real because one is so astonished 驚訝得無法相信所見所聞是事實. ,seeing is `believing (saying 諺) one needs to see sth before one can believe it exists or happens 眼見為實. ,would you be`lieve (it)? (expressi