xìnrèn: 信任 - Trust, To Trust, To Have Confidence In

• Keywords: 信任, xìnrèn, Chinese word for trust, how to say trust in Chinese, what is xìnrèn, believe vs trust in Chinese, 相信 vs 信任, Chinese culture trust, guānxi and trust, HSK 4 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the deep meaning of 信任 (xìnrèn), the essential Chinese word for “trust” and “to trust.” This guide explores its cultural significance beyond a simple translation, breaking down the characters 信 and 任, and comparing it to the Western concept of trust. Discover how to use 信任 (xìnrèn) correctly in business, relationships, and daily conversation with practical examples, and learn the crucial difference between 信任 (xìnrèn) and 相信 (xiāngxìn).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìn rèn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To trust someone's character and reliability; the state of trust or confidence.
• In a Nutshell: 信任 (xìnrèn) is more than just believing what someone says. It's a deep, foundational trust in a person's integrity and competence, built over time through consistent, reliable actions. It implies you can count on them and are willing to place something of value—a task, a secret, or your own vulnerability—in their hands.

• 信 (xìn): This character is a combination of 人 (rén - person) and 言 (yán - word/speech). Pictorially, it represents a person standing by their word. Its core meaning is “truth,” “faith,” “belief,” or “a letter.”
• 任 (rèn): This character combines 人 (rén - person) with a component that historically represented a person carrying a heavy load or a burden. It means “responsibility,” “duty,” “to appoint,” or “to rely on.”

When combined, 信任 (xìnrèn) literally means to “believe in someone's responsibility” or to have “faith in their ability to carry a burden.” This beautifully illustrates the concept of entrusting someone with something important, confident that they are reliable and capable.

In Chinese culture, 信任 (xìnrèn) is the bedrock of all meaningful relationships, from business to personal life. It's a cornerstone of the famous concept of 关系 (guānxi). While in the West, the mantra “trust, but verify” is common, in Chinese culture, the need to constantly “verify” someone you deeply 信任 (xìnrèn) can be perceived as an insult. Once established, 信任 (xìnrèn) implies a near-unconditional reliance on the other person's character and goodwill. It's earned through long-term observation of a person's actions, consistency, and loyalty—not given freely. Losing someone's 信任 (xìnrèn) can be catastrophic for a relationship, as it suggests a fundamental failure of character. Rebuilding it is a slow and arduous process. In business, establishing genuine 信任 (xìnrèn) is often more important than the fine print on a contract, as it ensures long-term cooperation and mutual support.

信任 (xìnrèn) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts.

• As a Verb (to trust): It's used to express one's confidence in another person or entity.
  • 我完全信任你。 (Wǒ wánquán xìnrèn nǐ.) - I completely trust you.
• As a Noun (trust): It's used to talk about the concept of trust itself.
  • 信任是关系的基础。 (Xìnrèn shì guānxì de jīchǔ.) - Trust is the foundation of a relationship.
• In Business: Building 信任 (xìnrèn) with clients (客户, kèhù) and partners (合作伙伴, hézuò huǒbàn) is paramount. Discussions often revolve around how to 建立信任 (jiànlì xìnrèn - establish trust) and 赢得信任 (yíngdé xìnrèn - win trust).
• In Personal Relationships: It describes the emotional bond between friends and family. A breach of trust is often described as 背叛了我的信任 (bèipànle wǒ de xìnrèn - betrayed my trust).

• Example 1:
  • 他是我最信任的朋友。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì wǒ zuì xìnrèn de péngyǒu.
  • English: He is the friend I trust the most.
  • Analysis: Here, 信任 is used as a verb within a descriptive clause. It describes the specific quality of the friend—the one who is most trusted.
• Example 2:
  • 信任一旦被打破，就很难重建。
  • Pinyin: Xìnrèn yídàn bèi dǎpò, jiù hěn nán chóngjiàn.
  • English: Once trust is broken, it is very difficult to rebuild.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 信任 functions as a noun, the subject of the sentence. This is a common saying that highlights the fragile and precious nature of trust.
• Example 3:
  • 经理信任他，所以把这个重要的项目交给了他。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ xìnrèn tā, suǒyǐ bǎ zhège zhòngyào de xiàngmù jiāo gěi le tā.
  • English: The manager trusts him, so she gave this important project to him.
  • Analysis: This shows the direct consequence of 信任. The trust (the cause) leads to being given responsibility (the effect). This links back to the character 任 (rèn - responsibility).
• Example 4:
  • 我们之间的信任已经不存在了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhījiān de xìnrèn yǐjīng bù cúnzài le.
  • English: The trust between us no longer exists.
  • Analysis: A common and dramatic way to state the end of a close relationship. 信任 is a noun here, representing the entire foundation that has crumbled.
• Example 5:
  • 你为什么不信任我呢？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bù xìnrèn wǒ ne?
  • English: Why don't you trust me?
  • Analysis: A simple but powerful question. The verb 信任 is negated with 不 (bù). This is a question you'd ask someone close to you.
• Example 6:
  • 要赢得客户的信任，我们需要提供优质的服务。
  • Pinyin: Yào yíngdé kèhù de xìnrèn, wǒmen xūyào tígōng yōuzhì de fúwù.
  • English: To win customers' trust, we need to provide high-quality service.
  • Analysis: A classic business context. Here, 信任 is a noun, the object that needs to be “won” (赢得, yíngdé).
• Example 7:
  • 这是一个值得信任的品牌。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge zhídé xìnrèn de pǐnpái.
  • English: This is a trustworthy brand.
  • Analysis: The phrase 值得信任 (zhídé xìnrèn) means “worth trusting” or “trustworthy.” It's a very common construction used to describe people, companies, or products.
• Example 8:
  • 她辜负了父母对她的信任。
  • Pinyin: Tā gūfùle fùmǔ duì tā de xìnrèn.
  • English: She let down the trust her parents had in her.
  • Analysis: 辜负 (gūfù) is a strong verb meaning “to let down” or “to fail to live up to (expectations, trust).” It pairs perfectly with 信任 to express the idea of betrayal or disappointment.
• Example 9:
  • 出于对你的信任，我才告诉你这个秘密。
  • Pinyin: Chūyú duì nǐ de xìnrèn, wǒ cái gàosù nǐ zhège mìmì.
  • English: It is only out of trust for you that I am telling you this secret.
  • Analysis: The phrase 出于… (chūyú…) means “out of” or “stemming from.” This sentence structure emphasizes that trust is the sole reason for the action.
• Example 10:
  • 建立相互信任是成功合作的第一步。
  • Pinyin: Jiànlì xiānghù xìnrèn shì chénggōng hézuò de dì yī bù.
  • English: Establishing mutual trust is the first step to successful cooperation.
  • Analysis: The word 相互 (xiānghù - mutual) is often paired with 信任 to stress that trust must be a two-way street, especially in partnerships.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 信任 (xìnrèn) with 相信 (xiāngxìn).

• 相信 (xiāngxìn) = To Believe (a statement, a fact, a possibility)
  • Use this for things you believe to be true.
  • Correct: 我相信他说的都是真的。(Wǒ xiāngxìn tā shuō de dōu shì zhēn de.) - I believe everything he said is true.
  • Correct: 我相信明天会晴天。(Wǒ xiāngxìn míngtiān huì qíngtiān.) - I believe it will be sunny tomorrow.
• 信任 (xìnrèn) = To Trust (a person's character, integrity, reliability)
  • Use this when you are entrusting someone with responsibility or have faith in their character.
  • Correct: 我信任他这个人。(Wǒ xìnrèn tā zhège rén.) - I trust him as a person.
  • Incorrect Usage: 我信任明天会晴天。 (Wǒ xìnrèn míngtiān huì qíngtiān.)
  • Why it's wrong: You can't “trust” the weather's character or give it a responsibility. You can only “believe” in the possibility of a sunny day. You must use 相信 (xiāngxìn) here.

Rule of Thumb: If you can replace “trust” with “believe that…” in English, use 相信 (xiāngxìn). If you mean “trust someone with something” or “have faith in their character,” use 信任 (xìnrèn).

• 相信 (xiāngxìn) - To believe. The act of accepting a statement as true, which is a component of trust but not the whole picture.
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit, credibility. The quantifiable reputation of being trustworthy, especially in finance and commerce (e.g., credit score, company credit).
• 可靠 (kěkào) - Reliable, dependable. An adjective describing a person or thing that is worthy of 信任.
• 怀疑 (huáiyí) - To doubt, to suspect. The direct antonym of both 信任 and 相信.
• 背叛 (bèipàn) - To betray. The ultimate violation of 信任.
• 忠诚 (zhōngchéng) - Loyalty, allegiance. A quality that often inspires 信任.
• 关系 (guānxi) - Relationships, connections. A social network built upon layers of interaction, favor exchange, and, most importantly, 信任.
• 信仰 (xìnyǎng) - Faith, creed (often religious or ideological). A much stronger, more absolute belief system than 信任.