承认

• Pinyin: chéng rèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 承 = originally depicted hands receiving something, meaning to accept; 认 = 讠(speech) + 人 (person, phonetic), meaning to recognise

Meaning

To admit; to acknowledge; to recognise. Accepting that something is true, often something one would prefer not to accept.

Used when someone accepts a fact, mistake, or status — often reluctantly. Can also mean official recognition, as in one country recognising another. Common in both personal conversations and formal or legal contexts.

Examples

1. 他终于承认了自己的错误。 He finally admitted his mistake.
2. 她不愿意承认自己输了。 She is unwilling to admit that she lost.
3. 你必须承认，这个方案确实比较好。 You have to admit that this plan is indeed better.

Usage Guide

Context: personal, legal, everyday

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 犯了错就要勇敢地承认。(When you make a mistake, you should bravely admit it.)
• 他承认这件事是他做的。(He admitted that he was the one who did it.)

Don't Say

• 我承认这个苹果很好吃 (For agreeing with an opinion about food, use 同意 or 觉得; 承认 implies reluctant acceptance or formal acknowledgement)

Origin & History

承 means to receive or accept; 认 means to recognise or acknowledge. Together they mean to accept and acknowledge as true.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal