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信
xìn
faith
我对他的能力充满信心。
I have full faith in his abilities.
formal
trust or confidence in someone or something; belief that someone or something is reliable, good, or honest
她的话让我对未来充满信心。
Her words filled me with confidence in the future.
我们需要建立相互之间的信任。
We need to build mutual trust.
Used in phrases like 信任 (trust), 信心 (confidence), 信仰 (faith/religion).
formal
a letter or written message
我收到了他的一封信。
I received a letter from him.
古代人通过书信传递消息。
People in ancient times communicated through letters.
Often used in compound words like 信件 (mail), 书信 (correspondence).
formal
to believe or trust in something, especially without proof
我信他说的话。
I believe what he said.
Less common as a verb in modern Mandarin; often replaced by 相信.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguish 信 and 相信
信 (xìn) as a noun means 'faith' or 'trust,' while 相信 (xiāngxìn) is a verb meaning 'to believe.' For example, '我信他' (I trust him) vs. '我相信他说的话' (I believe what he said).
Gold Rule
信 in compound words
信 often appears in compound words related to communication or trust, such as 信件 (mail), 信号 (signal), 信仰 (faith), and 信任 (trust).
Word Origin
From Old Chinese *sins, related to the idea of trust and sincerity. The character combines 人 (person) and 言 (speech), suggesting trustworthiness in communication.
Usage Notes
信 is a versatile character used in many compound words. As a noun, it often appears in abstract contexts (faith, trust). As a verb, it is less common and often replaced by 相信 (to believe).
Word Breakdown
人
person
root言
speech
root汉英词典