xìnyǎng: 信仰 - Belief, Faith, Conviction

• Keywords: xinyang, 信仰, what does xinyang mean, Chinese word for faith, Chinese word for belief, religious belief in Chinese, personal conviction in Chinese, zongjiao xinyang, 宗教信仰
• Summary: Discover the profound meaning of 信仰 (xìnyǎng), the Chinese word for “faith,” “belief,” or “conviction.” This guide explores how 信仰 extends beyond religious faith to encompass deep-seated beliefs in philosophies, ideologies, and personal principles. Learn the difference between 信仰 and simply “believing” something, see practical examples, and understand its significant role in Chinese culture and modern society.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìnyǎng
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A firm belief, faith, or conviction, often in a religion, philosophy, or principle.
• In a Nutshell: 信仰 (xìnyǎng) is not just a casual belief; it's a deep, guiding force in someone's life. Think of it as the core foundation of what a person trusts in and looks up to. It can be religious (like faith in God or Buddha), political (like faith in Communism), or philosophical (like faith in humanity or science). It implies a level of devotion and reverence that is much stronger than simply thinking something is true.

• 信 (xìn): This character means “to trust,” “to believe,” or “letter/message.” It's a combination of the person radical 亻(rén) and 言 (yán), meaning “speech” or “words.” The image is of a person standing by their words, implying trustworthiness and honesty.
• 仰 (yǎng): This character means “to look up to,” “to face upwards,” or “to admire.” It combines the person radical 亻(rén) with a component that suggests a person raising their head to look at something high above them.

The two characters combine beautifully to create a powerful concept: 信仰 (xìnyǎng) is a belief (信) that you look up to and revere (仰). It's a “trust” that you hold in high esteem.

In China, 信仰 (xìnyǎng) is a broad and layered concept. While it directly translates to “faith” or “belief,” its application differs from the typical Western understanding, which is often heavily tied to monotheistic religions. 信仰 in a Chinese context can refer to: 1. Organized Religion (宗教信仰 - zōngjiào xìnyǎng): This includes Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and Islam, which have long histories in China. 2. Folk Traditions and Syncretism: For many Chinese people, 信仰 is not about exclusive devotion to one religion but a blend of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian principles, alongside ancestral veneration. It's a practical and philosophical toolkit for life rather than a rigid dogma. 3. Political Ideology: In the People's Republic of China, 信仰 is frequently used to describe devotion to political ideals, most notably Communism (共产主义 - gòngchǎnzhǔyì). For party members, this is considered their core 信仰. 4. Secular and Philosophical Convictions: A person can have a 信仰 in science (信仰科学), humanism (信仰人道主义), or even a personal principle like love or hard work. A key cultural comparison is with the Western concept of “faith.” While an American might say “I have faith in God,” the term is almost exclusively religious. In China, saying you have 信仰 could just as easily refer to your political convictions as your spiritual ones, a distinction that is crucial to understanding public and private discourse. It's less about a single divine truth and more about a foundational, guiding system of trust.

信仰 (xìnyǎng) is a relatively formal and serious word. You wouldn't use it for everyday, trivial beliefs.

• Formal Discussions: It's standard when discussing religion, philosophy, or politics. You'll see it in news articles, academic papers, and official documents, especially in the phrase 宗教信仰自由 (zōngjiào xìnyǎng zìyóu) - “freedom of religious belief.”
• Personal and Profound Conversations: When someone talks about their 信仰, they are revealing something deep about their worldview and what gives their life meaning. It's a “heavy” word that carries weight.
• As a Verb: While often a noun, it can be used as a verb meaning “to have faith in” or “to believe in.” For example, 他信仰佛教 (Tā xìnyǎng Fójiào) - “He believes in Buddhism.”

Its connotation is generally neutral to positive, as having a 信仰 is seen as giving a person purpose and moral grounding. However, it can be used negatively when paired with words like 迷信 (míxìn), meaning “superstition” (literally “confused faith”).

• Example 1:
  • 每个人都有选择自己信仰的自由。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge rén dōu yǒu xuǎnzé zìjǐ xìnyǎng de zìyóu.
  • English: Everyone has the freedom to choose their own belief/faith.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 信仰 in a formal, legal, or philosophical context, referring to a fundamental human right.
• Example 2:
  • 他的信仰是共产主义。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xìnyǎng shì gòngchǎnzhǔyì.
  • English: His belief/faith is Communism.
  • Analysis: A very common usage in modern China, showing how 信仰 is applied to political ideology.
• Example 3:
  • 在困难时期，是信仰给了我力量。
  • Pinyin: Zài kùnnán shíqī, shì xìnyǎng gěi le wǒ lìliàng.
  • English: In difficult times, it was faith that gave me strength.
  • Analysis: Here, 信仰 refers to a personal, deep-seated conviction that provides emotional and spiritual support, which may or may not be religious.
• Example 4:
  • 你有什么宗教信仰吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ yǒu shénme zōngjiào xìnyǎng ma?
  • English: Do you have any religious beliefs?
  • Analysis: The phrase 宗教信仰 (zōngjiào xìnyǎng) is the standard way to specifically ask about religion.
• Example 5:
  • 很多科学家信仰科学，而不是神。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō kēxuéjiā xìnyǎng kēxué, ér búshì shén.
  • English: Many scientists believe in science, not in gods.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the verb usage of 信仰 and its application to a secular concept like science.
• Example 6:
  • 失去了信仰的人，就像没有方向的船。
  • Pinyin: Shīqù le xìnyǎng de rén, jiù xiàng méiyǒu fāngxiàng de chuán.
  • English: A person who has lost their faith is like a ship without a direction.
  • Analysis: A metaphorical sentence highlighting the cultural view that 信仰 provides purpose and guidance.
• Example 7:
  • 她对爱情有着坚定不移的信仰。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì àiqíng yǒuzhe jiāndìng bù yí de xìnyǎng.
  • English: She has an unwavering faith in love.
  • Analysis: This shows 信仰 used for an abstract, personal concept. The adjective 坚定不移 (jiāndìng bù yí), meaning “unwavering,” often accompanies it.
• Example 8:
  • 他们的家庭信仰佛教。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de jiātíng xìnyǎng Fójiào.
  • English: Their family believes in Buddhism.
  • Analysis: A straightforward use of 信仰 as a verb to describe a family's religious affiliation.
• Example 9:
  • 这种盲目的信仰是危险的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng mángmù de xìnyǎng shì wēixiǎn de.
  • English: This kind of blind faith is dangerous.
  • Analysis: This example shows that 信仰 itself is neutral; it's the nature of the belief that can be positive or negative. 盲目 (mángmù) means “blind.”
• Example 10:
  • 建立一个信仰比摧毁它要难得多。
  • Pinyin: Jiànlì yí ge xìnyǎng bǐ cuīhuǐ tā yào nán de duō.
  • English: It is much harder to build up a faith than to destroy it.
  • Analysis: A philosophical sentence using 信仰 as a countable noun (with '一个').

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 信仰 (xìnyǎng) with 相信 (xiāngxìn).

• 相信 (xiāngxìn): To believe (something is true), to trust (someone). This is for everyday facts, opinions, and trust in people. It's the “I believe” you use 99% of the time.
• 信仰 (xìnyǎng): To have faith in, to hold a deep conviction. This is for foundational, guiding principles like religion, philosophy, or major ideologies.

Incorrect Usage:

• Wrong: 我信仰明天会下雨。(Wǒ xìnyǎng míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) → “I have faith that it will rain tomorrow.” This is far too dramatic and incorrect.
• Correct: 我相信明天会下雨。(Wǒ xiāngxìn míngtiān huì xià yǔ.) → “I believe it will rain tomorrow.”

Correct Usage Comparison:

• 我相信你。 (Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ.) → “I believe you / I trust you.” (Trusting a person's words or character).
• 我信仰上帝。 (Wǒ xìnyǎng Shàngdì.) → “I have faith in God.” (A deep, spiritual conviction).

Think of it this way: you 相信 (xiāngxìn) the weather forecast, but you 信仰 (xìnyǎng) your religion. Using 信仰 for an everyday belief sounds strange and hyperbolic.

• 相信 (xiāngxìn) - The common word for “to believe” or “to trust.” It lacks the deep, reverential meaning of 信仰.
• 宗教 (zōngjiào) - Religion. Often the object of 信仰, as in 宗教信仰.
• 迷信 (míxìn) - Superstition. Literally “confused/lost belief,” this is the negative counterpart to a rational or accepted 信仰.
• 信念 (xìnniàn) - Conviction, belief, firm opinion. Similar to 信仰, but 信念 is more about a strong personal or intellectual conviction and less about spiritual or reverential faith. You have a 信念 in your ability to succeed.
• 信任 (xìnrèn) - To trust, to have confidence in. This is about reliability and is almost always used for people, organizations, or systems. It's built on evidence, whereas 信仰 can exist without proof.
• 主义 (zhǔyì) - -ism (e.g., 共产主义 gòngchǎnzhǔyì, Communism). This suffix denotes an ideology, which is often the object of a political 信仰.
• 崇拜 (chóngbài) - To worship, to adore. This is an action or feeling often driven by 信仰. One might 崇拜 a deity or a celebrity.
• 精神 (jīngshén) - Spirit, mind, consciousness. One's 信仰 is a core part of their 精神 world.