信以为真
xìn yǐ wéi zhēn
to take something false for the truth
Character by character
信xìn
believe
believe
以yǐ
take
take
为wéi
as
as
真zhēn
true
true
Example
网上说喝醋能治感冒，奶奶居然信以为真。
Someone online said drinking vinegar cures colds, and Grandma actually believed it.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
Said of believing a lie, a rumour or a joke; the speaker knows it is false. Often after 竟然, 居然 or 很多人都. Compare 半信半疑, half believing.
Learn this in Lesson 68 · HSK 6: 反诈 (Phone and online scams)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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