confessing

confess, acknowledge, admit, own

这四个词都有“公开承认”的意思。它们的区别是：

1.acknowledge和admit所承认的是不对的或不光彩的事实; confess指承认“错误及罪行”; own承认的不一定是“错误及罪行”,只是一般地表明自己的感觉及处境。例如:

He acknowledged that he was your inferior.他承认他不及你。

Did he admit to stealing it?他承认是他偷的吗?

He confessed where he had hidden the money.他供出了他藏钱的地方。

2.acknowledge强调在一定压力下承认, admit强调勉强承认。例如:

Dan acknowledged himself as criminal.达恩承认自己是罪人。

I admit to a natural fear.我承认生来胆小。

3.acknowledge所承认的一般是隐蔽的, admit, confess和own所承认的不一定是隐蔽的。例如:

Jane acknowledged using her father's motor-car.珍妮承认用了她父亲的摩托车。

They admitted my statement to be reasonable.他们承认我的陈述有道理。

The police have confessed themselves completely puzzled by this strange crime.警方承认他们完全被这桩奇特的罪案搞糊涂了。

4.confess语气上较强,属正式语体; own则不如confess正式。

5.这四个词用作及物动词时,都可接简单宾语或复合宾语,除own外,其他词都可接动名词。admit, confess和own用作不及物动词都可与介词to搭配,其后都可接动名词。例如:

They acknowledged having been defeated.他们认输了。

He confessed taking part in a plot to free the prisoner.他供认自己参与了企图营救那个囚犯的密谋。

She admitted having done wrong.她承认自己做错了。

acknowledge，admit，confess，recognize，concede

这些动词都含“承认”之意。

acknowledge通常指公开承认某事的真实情况或自己的过错。

admit强调因外力或良心驱使或经判断而明确承认，多含不情愿或被迫意味。

confess语气较强，着重承认自己意识到的错误或罪行，含坦白忏悔的意味。

recognize作“承认”解时，系书面用词，主要指合法的或外交上的承认，也指公认。

concede指在事实与证据面前勉强或不得不承认。