区别辨析acknowledge、admit、confess、recognize与concede

acknowledge、admit、confess、recognize与concede这些动词均含“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。

• After months of widespread protests failed to budge the government, opponents acknowledge that the chances of turning the tide now are slim.
  经过数月的广泛抗议未能让政府做出让步之后，反对者承认，现在扭转局势的可能性微乎其微。
  ——《纽约时报》

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。

• 政府高级官员承认他们还没能镇压这场暴乱。
  Senior government officials admit they have not been able to subdue the mutiny.

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。

• She confessed to the murder.
  她供认犯了谋杀罪。
• After hours of questioning, the suspect confessed.
  经过数小时的审问后，嫌疑犯终于招供。

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。

• They recognized the need to take the problem seriously.
  他们认识到需要严肃对待这个问题。
• Drugs were not recognized as a problem then.
  那时候还没有把毒品看成严重问题。

concede ：指在事实与证据面前勉强或不得不承认。

• ‘Not bad,’ she conceded grudgingly.
  “不错。”她勉强承认道。
• He was forced to concede (that) there might be difficulties.
  他被迫承认可能有困难。