不以为然
- Literal
- not consider it so
- Figurative
- To disagree, to refuse to accept a view as right, often with a touch of disdain; it does not mean "to shrug something off," which is 不以为意.
Where does 不以为然 come from?
It does not come from a specific anecdote: classical grammar explains it. 以为 is "to take as" and 然 "so, right," so 不以为然 is "not to take it as right," that is, to disagree. It is a classic trap: it is often confused with 不以为意, "to pay no heed," and the mix-up is common even among native speakers. The proper sense is disagreement, often with a touch of unspoken disdain or skepticism. It is used a great deal in storytelling and in the press to describe how someone reacts to another person's opinion.
How is 不以为然 used? Two examples
- 我劝他趁年轻多存点钱，他却不以为然，说钱就是用来花的。
I urged him to save some money while he's young, but he disagreed, saying money is there to be spent.
- 对于经理的新方案，不少同事嘴上不说，心里却不以为然。
Plenty of colleagues say nothing about the manager's new plan, but privately they don't think much of it.
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