persuade
Definitions
To make someone agree to do something by giving them good reasons or appealing to them
说服，劝说（某人去做某事）
To cause someone to believe that something is true
使（某人）相信
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedper- (thoroughly) + suade (from suādēre 'to advise,' built on suāvis 'sweet'). To persuade is to sweet-talk someone *all the way* through — to keep making the idea appealing until they finally agree to act. The thoroughness in per- is why persuasion implies success, not just an attempt.
Root suad still carries 4 more wordsUsage Guide
- persuade sb to do sth (most common): persuade her to stay — pushing toward an action.
- persuade sb that...: persuade him that it's safe — pushing toward a belief.
- persuade sb of sth: persuade them of the need to act — formal, belief-focused.
- persuade vs convince: in careful usage, convince changes belief (convince sb that/of), persuade changes action (persuade sb to do). Modern English often blurs them, but avoid 'convince sb to do' in formal writing.
Example Sentences
- 1.
It took me an hour to persuade her to come to the party with us.
- 2.
No one could persuade him to change his mind once it was made up.
- 3.
The evidence persuaded the jury that the suspect was innocent.
- 4.
She was finally persuaded of the plan's value after seeing the numbers.
Easily Confused
persuade vs convince — Both translate to 说服/使相信, but the natural targets differ: you convince a mind that something is true (convince sb that/of), and you persuade a will toward an action (persuade sb to do). If the result is a changed belief → convince; if the result is a changed decision/action → persuade.
Synonym Comparison
- persuade — win someone over to an action through appealing reasons
- convince — make someone believe something is true (targets belief)
- coax — persuade gently and patiently, often with flattery
- urge — press someone strongly and directly to act
- induce — cause someone to act, often by offering an incentive