think of A as B / see A as B / look on A as B and so on...

hirashin · 15 Apr 2018

Dear native English speakers,
Would all these sentences be used with the same meaning? Is there any difference in nuance between them?
(A) Many people think of Japan as a safe country.
(B) Many people see Japan as a safe country.
(C) Many people regard Japan as a safe country.
(D) Many people view Japan as a safe country.
(E) Many people consider Japan as a safe country.
(F) Many people look on Japan as a safe country.
(G) Many people count on Japan as a safe country.

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin

Lothor · 15 Apr 2018

hirashin said:
Dear native English speakers,
Would all these sentences be used with the same meaning? Is there any difference in nuance between them?
(A) Many people think of Japan as a safe country.
(B) Many people see Japan as a safe country.
(C) Many people regard Japan as a safe country.
(D) Many people view Japan as a safe country.
(E) Many people consider Japan as a safe country.
(F) Many people look on Japan as a safe country.
(G) Many people count on Japan as a safe country.

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin

(a)-(f) are all correct and interchangeable and I cannot see any difference in nuance.
I don't like (g) as it stands. 'count on' has the nuance of trust and reliability.
I Googled "count on Japan as a" and got five nice results, the best one being 'The USA can count on Japan as a steadfast ally'.
If (g) was changed to something like 'People can count on Japan as a safe place to go on holiday', it would sound more natural. 'Count on' has the feeling of 安心 rather than 安全 if that makes sense.

"count on japan as a" - Google Search

hirashin · 15 Apr 2018

Thank you for the help, Lothor.
OK, "count on A as B" has a different meaning.

think of A as B / see A as B / look on A as B and so on...

hirashin

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Lothor

Freelance proofreader

hirashin

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