xìnyù: 信誉 - Credibility, Reputation, Trustworthiness

• Keywords: xinyu, xìnyù, 信誉, Chinese for reputation, Chinese for credibility, business reputation in China, what does xinyu mean, building trust in China, 信誉 vs 信用, 信誉 vs 名誉, Chinese culture
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 信誉 (xìnyù), a crucial Chinese term for credibility, reputation, and trustworthiness. This page explores how `信誉` is more than just a “good name”—it's a foundational concept in Chinese business and social life, representing a tangible asset built through integrity and reliability. Learn how it differs from Western ideas of reputation and how to use it effectively in modern China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìnyù
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: The trustworthiness and reputation of a person, company, or institution, earned through consistent, reliable actions.
• In a Nutshell: Think of `信誉` as a “trust score” that you build over time. It's not just what people think of you, but a reflection of your proven track record for keeping promises and acting with integrity. In business, a company with high `信誉` is seen as reliable and high-quality. For a person, it means their word is their bond. It's a heavy, substantial concept that is earned, not just given.

• 信 (xìn): This character is composed of 人 (rén - person) and 言 (yán - speech). It represents the idea that a person's word should be believable, hence its meaning: trust, faith, belief, letter.
• 誉 (yù): This character means reputation, praise, or fame. It signifies the public recognition and acclaim one receives from others.
• Together, 信誉 (xìnyù) literally translates to “trust-reputation.” It's a reputation specifically built on a foundation of trust and reliability. You have `誉` (reputation) because you are `信` (trustworthy).

`信誉` is a cornerstone of social and economic interaction in China, carrying more weight than the English word “reputation” often does. It is deeply connected to the Confucian value of `诚信 (chéngxìn)`, or integrity. In Western culture, a company's reputation might be seen as a marketing asset, something managed by a PR department. A person's reputation can be fluid. In contrast, `信誉` is treated as a core, almost quantifiable, asset. It's like a credit history for your character. Building it is a slow, deliberate process that requires consistent, honorable behavior over years. Losing it, however, can happen in an instant and have devastating, long-lasting consequences for both business and personal relationships. A good analogy is the difference between “networking” and the Chinese concept of `关系 (guānxi)`. While they seem similar, `关系` involves a much deeper, long-term web of mutual obligation. Similarly, `信誉` is a more profound and binding version of “reputation.” It is the fundamental currency of trust that makes business and social life function smoothly. A person or company with low `信誉` will find it nearly impossible to operate effectively.

`信誉` is used constantly in formal and informal contexts, especially concerning business, finance, and personal character.

• In Business: This is the most common context. A company's `信誉` refers to its reliability, product quality, and ethical practices. A supplier with good `信誉` will be paid on time and deliver quality goods. Companies spend immense effort to build and protect their `信誉`.
• In Finance: Banks and lenders heavily assess the `信誉` of individuals and businesses before issuing loans. This is their “creditworthiness.”
• In the Digital Age: The concept has been digitized. For example, Alibaba's “Sesame Credit” (芝麻信用 - Zhīma Xìnyòng) is a system that literally assigns a score to a user's `信誉` based on their transaction history, payment behavior, and other data points. This score affects everything from renting a bike without a deposit to getting a visa.
• Personal Relationships: While less common, you can describe a person as having `信誉`. This means they are a person of their word, someone you can rely on completely.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司非常注重商业信誉。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī fēicháng zhùzhòng shāngyè xìnyù.
  • English: Our company places great importance on its business reputation.
  • Analysis: This is a classic business context. `商业信誉` (shāngyè xìnyù) means “commercial credibility” or “business reputation.”
• Example 2:
  • 这家网店的信誉很高，你可以在这里放心购物。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā wǎngdiàn de xìnyù hěn gāo, nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ fàngxīn gòuwù.
  • English: This online store has a very high reputation; you can shop here without worry.
  • Analysis: Here, `信誉` refers to the trustworthiness of an e-commerce store, likely built through good reviews and reliable service.
• Example 3:
  • 建立良好的信誉需要很长时间，但毁掉它只需要一瞬间。
  • Pinyin: Jiànlì liánghǎo de xìnyù xūyào hěn cháng shíjiān, dàn huǐ diào tā zhǐ xūyào yī shùnjiān.
  • English: It takes a long time to build a good reputation, but only a moment to destroy it.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the cultural weight of `信誉`—it is precious and fragile.
• Example 4:
  • 他是个有信誉的人，答应你的事一定会做到。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì ge yǒu xìnyù de rén, dāyìng nǐ de shì yīdìng huì zuòdào.
  • English: He is a person of his word (has credibility); he will definitely do what he promised you.
  • Analysis: This shows the personal application of `信誉`. It describes someone as fundamentally reliable.
• Example 5:
  • 他们的产品质量太差，严重影响了公司的信誉。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen de chǎnpǐn zhìliàng tài chà, yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng le gōngsī de xìnyù.
  • English: Their product quality is too poor, which has seriously damaged the company's credibility.
  • Analysis: This example shows how tangible factors like product quality directly impact the abstract concept of `信誉`.
• Example 6:
  • 银行会评估贷款申请人的个人信誉。
  • Pinyin: Yínháng huì pínggū dàikuǎn shēnqǐngrén de gèrén xìnyù.
  • English: The bank will evaluate the personal creditworthiness of the loan applicant.
  • Analysis: `个人信誉` (gèrén xìnyù) is the direct equivalent of “personal credit/credibility” in a financial context.
• Example 7:
  • 这次丑闻让他的个人信誉彻底破产了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì chǒuwén ràng tā de gèrén xìnyù chèdǐ pòchǎn le.
  • English: This scandal has completely bankrupted his personal credibility.
  • Analysis: The use of `破产 (pòchǎn)` - “to go bankrupt” - is a powerful metaphor, highlighting how `信誉` is viewed as a form of capital that can be lost.
• Example 8:
  • 我们选择合作伙伴时，信誉是第一位的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xuǎnzé hézuò huǒbàn shí, xìnyù shì dì-yī wèi de.
  • English: When we choose partners, credibility is the number one priority.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the supreme importance of `信誉` in Chinese business dealings.
• Example 9:
  • 良好的信誉是企业最重要的无形资产。
  • Pinyin: Liánghǎo de xìnyù shì qǐyè zuì zhòngyào de wúxíng zīchǎn.
  • English: A good reputation is a company's most important intangible asset.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly states the cultural view of `信誉` as a valuable, albeit intangible, asset (`无形资产`).
• Example 10:
  • 他用实际行动维护了自己作为一名医生的信誉。
  • Pinyin: Tā yòng shíjì xíngdòng wéihù le zìjǐ zuòwéi yī míng yīshēng de xìnyù.
  • English: He used his actual deeds to maintain his credibility as a doctor.
  • Analysis: This emphasizes that `信誉` isn't about words, but is built and maintained through `实际行动` (shíjì xíngdòng) - “actual actions.”

• `信誉` (xìnyù) vs. `名誉` (míngyù): This is a key distinction.
  • `信誉` is credibility earned through action. It's about being reliable and trustworthy. It's substantive. (e.g., a company with good `信誉` delivers quality products on time).
  • `名誉` (míngyù) is fame or public image. It's about what people say about you, which may or may not be based on substance. You could have a good `名誉` because of good PR, but poor `信誉` because your products are bad.
  • Incorrect: “He has a bad reputation (`信誉`) for being late.”
  • Correct: You would use a different structure entirely, like `他总迟到，名声不太好 (Tā zǒng chídào, míngshēng bù tài hǎo)`. `信誉` isn't used for specific negative traits, but rather for the overall lack of trustworthiness.
• `信誉` (xìnyù) vs. `信用` (xìnyòng): These are very close.
  • `信用` (xìnyòng) often refers more specifically to credit, especially in a financial or transactional sense (e.g., `信用卡` - xìnyòngkǎ - credit card). It is the trust itself.
  • `信誉` (xìnyù) is the reputation that results from having good `信用`. It's a broader concept of public esteem.
  • In many cases they are interchangeable, but `信誉` has a slightly grander, more public-facing feel.
• Not for General Reputation: Do not use `信誉` to mean “reputation” in a general sense, like “a reputation for being funny” or “a reputation for being strict.” `信誉` is exclusively tied to positive qualities like honesty, integrity, reliability, and quality.

• 诚信 (chéngxìn) - Integrity, good faith. The core moral quality that is required to build `信誉`.
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit, trustworthiness. Very similar to `信誉`, but often more focused on financial or transactional trust.
• 名誉 (míngyù) - Fame, reputation (in a general sense). It's what people say about you, whereas `信誉` is the credibility you've earned.
• 声誉 (shēngyù) - Prestige, renown. Similar to `名誉` but often used for highly respected institutions, people, or brands.
• 可靠 (kěkào) - (adj.) Reliable, dependable. The quality a person or product must have to build `信誉`.
• 口碑 (kǒubēi) - “Mouth-stone tablet”; word-of-mouth reputation. This is one of the main ways a company's or person's `信誉` is spread.
• 保证 (bǎozhèng) - (v./n.) To guarantee, a guarantee. When you make a `保证`, you are putting your `信誉` on the line.
• 面子 (miànzi) - “Face,” social standing. `信誉` is about your inner character and reliability, while `面子` is about your external social dignity. Losing `信誉` will cause you to lose `面子`.