acknowledge, admit, confess 与 concede 这些词都含有“承认”的意思。
(1) acknowledge指公开承认某事的真实情况或自己的过错。
- He acknowledged that the building was faulty in design.
他承认该建筑物的设计有误。 - We fault them only for failing to publicly acknowledge that they can't do this job.
我们无法原谅他们只是因为他们没有公开地承认他们不能做这项工作。
(2) admit指迫于外界或自己良心的压力而承认原来企图否认或推诿的事实，常含有不情愿或被迫的意味。
- Under questioning he admitted his guilt.
经审问，他承认了自己的罪行。 - After much persuasion, the boy admitted that he had broken the window.
经再三劝说，那男孩承认打破了窗户。
(3) confess指承认罪行或错误，常含有坦白、忏悔的意味。
- The accused has confessed his crime in court.
被告在法庭上承认了自己的罪行。
(4) concede指在事实或证据面前勉强承认或不得不承认。
- He conceded to newsmen that an immediate agreement was nowhere in sight.
他向记者们承认近期内无望达成协议。 - The candidate conceded that he had lost the election.
这位候选人承认他已经在这次选举中失败。
