confess

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。