25 admit,confess和acknowledge
① admit常含被迫或不情愿之意,指因外部压力或受到良心谴责等而承认原想否认的事。He admitted his guilt to the police. 他向警方认了罪。
② confess表示“认罪,认错”,常指承认自己的罪行、过错或隐私等,侧重“坦白”之意。
He confessed that he was guilty/taking part in a plot to free the prisoner/to the priest before he died. 他承认自己有罪/坦白参与放走那个囚犯的密谋/在死前向神父忏悔。
③ acknowledge为普通用词,侧重指公开承认事实,某事的存在或某事的真实性。
He gladly acknowledged himself in the wrong. 他欣然认错。