信 (xìn) - trust, believe, faith & letter, message

信Tone 4

xìn ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

俊伦

信 · xìn

trust, believe, faith;

letter, message;

confidence;

truthful

trust, believe, faithletter, messageconfidence

Usage highlights

BelieveLetterInformationTrustConfidenceHonest

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 疑— doubt, suspect
  • 骗— cheat, deceive
  • 谎— lie, falsehood

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I trust his words (我相信他的话).
  • Please write me a letter (请给我写信).
  • This is reliable information (这是可靠的信息).
  • He is an honest person (他是个诚实的人).
  • Have faith in yourself (对自己要有信心).

Collocations

  • Believe(相信)
  • Letter(信件)
  • Information(信息)
  • Trust(信任)
  • Confidence(信心)
  • Honest(诚实)

Idioms

  • A promise is a promise(言而有信)
  • Half-believing, half-doubting(半信半疑)
  • Believe it firmly(深信不疑)
  • Incredible(难以置信)
  • Trustworthy in word and resolute in deed(言必信，行必果)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 信 combines 人 (person) and 言 (speech), representing that a person's words should be trustworthy.
  • In Confucianism, 信 is one of the Five Constant Virtues (五常) along with benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.
  • The character reflects the high value placed on honesty and keeping promises in traditional Chinese culture.

FAQ