xìn: 信 - Trust, Belief, Letter, Message, Faith

• Keywords: xìn, 信, Chinese word for trust, Chinese for faith, meaning of xin, Chinese letter, Chinese character for belief, confidence in Chinese, integrity in Chinese, Confucian virtues
• Summary: Discover the profound meaning of the Chinese character 信 (xìn). This essential term encompasses the concepts of trust, belief, faith, and integrity, while also referring to a physical letter or message. Rooted deeply in Confucian philosophy as a core virtue, 信 (xìn) is the bedrock of all personal, social, and business relationships in China. This guide explores its cultural significance, practical uses from daily conversation to the digital world, and how understanding it unlocks a deeper insight into the Chinese mindset.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìn
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: Trust, faith, or belief; it can also mean a letter or message.
• In a Nutshell: At its heart, 信 (xìn) is about reliability and truthfulness. As a noun, it's both the abstract foundation of relationships (trust) and a concrete object of communication (a letter). As a verb, it is the act of believing or having faith in someone or something. It's a powerful word that connects the internal feeling of belief with the external proof of one's word, forming a cornerstone of personal character in Chinese culture.

• 信 is a phono-semantic compound character, a combination of a meaning component and a sound component (though here, both contribute to the meaning).
• 亻 (rén): The “person” radical on the left. This indicates the concept is fundamentally related to people and human interaction.
• 言 (yán): The character for “speech” or “words” on the right.

The combination is beautifully intuitive: a person (人) standing by their words (言). This visual metaphor perfectly captures the essence of 信 (xìn): trustworthiness, integrity, and the principle that one's actions should align with one's promises. A person whose speech is reliable is someone you can trust.

• A Confucian Core Virtue: 信 (xìn) is one of the Five Constant Virtues (五常, Wǔcháng) of Confucianism, alongside Benevolence (仁, rén), Righteousness (义, yì), Propriety (礼, lǐ), and Wisdom (智, zhì). This elevates it from a simple personality trait to a fundamental moral imperative for a well-functioning society and a virtuous individual (君子, jūnzǐ).
• Comparison to Western “Integrity”: While “integrity” or “keeping one's word” are valued in Western cultures, 信 (xìn) carries a heavier societal weight. In the West, a lack of integrity might be seen as a personal failing. In a Chinese context, breaking 信 (xìn) is a more severe offense that can damage one's social standing, ruin relationships, and disrupt social harmony. It is not just about being honest, but about being a dependable and faithful component of a collective group, be it family, a company, or society itself. Earning and maintaining 信 is crucial for building 关系 (guānxi).

信 (xìn) is a versatile character used in many contexts:

• Interpersonal Trust: It's the foundation of relationships. You'll hear `我相信你 (wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ)` meaning “I trust/believe you” constantly.
• Communication: In its literal sense, it refers to letters and messages. `写信 (xiě xìn)` is “to write a letter,” while the modern equivalent is `发信息 (fā xìnxī)`, “to send a message/text.”
• Business and Finance: The concept is critical in commerce. `信用 (xìnyòng)` means “credit” and “trustworthiness.” A `信用卡 (xìnyòngkǎ)` is a credit card, and a company with good `信用` is a reliable partner. China's Social Credit System (`社会信用体系`) is a modern, large-scale application of this ancient concept.
• Belief Systems: It forms the basis for words related to faith and belief, such as `信仰 (xìnyǎng)` for religious or spiritual faith, and `迷信 (míxìn)` for superstition.

• Example 1:
  • 朋友之间，最重要的是互相信任。
  • Pinyin: Péngyǒu zhījiān, zuì zhòngyào de shì hùxiāng xìnrèn.
  • English: Among friends, the most important thing is mutual trust.
  • Analysis: Here, 信 is part of the word 信任 (xìnrèn), a more formal term for “trust” often used to emphasize the mutual and serious nature of the trust.
• Example 2:
  • 我每个月都会给奶奶写一封信。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè dōu huì gěi nǎinai xiě yī fēng xìn.
  • English: I write a letter to my grandmother every month.
  • Analysis: This shows the most literal meaning of 信: a physical letter. The measure word for a letter is `封 (fēng)`.
• Example 3:
  • 你为什么不信我？我真的没说谎。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bù xìn wǒ? Wǒ zhēnde méi shuōhuǎng.
  • English: Why don't you believe me? I really didn't lie.
  • Analysis: This uses 信 as a direct, standalone verb meaning “to believe.” It's slightly more direct and perhaps more emotional than the common alternative 相信 (xiāngxìn).
• Example 4:
  • 他对这次的考试很有信心。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì zhè cì de kǎoshì hěn yǒu xìnxīn.
  • English: He has a lot of confidence in this exam.
  • Analysis: 信心 (xìnxīn) means “confidence” or “faith (in oneself or an outcome).” The “heart of belief” (`心`) is confident.
• Example 5:
  • 不好意思，我没收到你的信息。
  • Pinyin: Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ méi shōudào nǐ de xìnxī.
  • English: Sorry, I didn't receive your message.
  • Analysis: 信息 (xìnxī) is the standard word for “information” or a “message,” especially in the digital sense (text message, instant message, etc.).
• Example 6:
  • 他的信用很好，所以银行同意贷款给他。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xìnyòng hěn hǎo, suǒyǐ yínháng tóngyì dàikuǎn gěi tā.
  • English: His credit is very good, so the bank agreed to give him a loan.
  • Analysis: 信用 (xìnyòng) perfectly illustrates the blend of “trust” and “utility.” It's financial trustworthiness.
• Example 7:
  • 尊重他人的宗教信仰是非常重要的。
  • Pinyin: Zūnzhòng tārén de zōngjiào xìnyǎng shì fēicháng zhòngyào de.
  • English: Respecting other people's religious beliefs is very important.
  • Analysis: 信仰 (xìnyǎng) is the specific term for faith or belief in a system, like religion or a philosophy. `仰 (yǎng)` means “to look up to.”
• Example 8:
  • 别太迷信了，黑猫走过根本不会带来坏运气。
  • Pinyin: Bié tài míxìn le, hēi māo zǒuguò gēnběn bù huì dàilái huài yùnqì.
  • English: Don't be so superstitious, a black cat crossing your path won't bring bad luck at all.
  • Analysis: 迷信 (míxìn) literally means “confused/lost belief,” a perfect description for superstition.
• Example 9:
  • 做生意，一定要讲信誉，守信用。
  • Pinyin: Zuò shēngyì, yīdìng yào jiǎng xìnyù, shǒu xìnyòng.
  • English: When doing business, you must value your reputation and be trustworthy.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows two important business concepts built on 信: `信誉 (xìnyù)` (reputation/credibility) and `守信用 (shǒu xìnyòng)` (to keep one's word/be trustworthy).
• Example 10:
  • 这封信的内容是真的吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè fēng xìn de nèiróng shì zhēn de ma?
  • English: Is the content of this letter true?
  • Analysis: This sentence cleverly combines both core meanings. It asks about the truthfulness (a concept of 信) of the content within a physical 信 (letter).

• 信 (xìn) vs. 相信 (xiāngxìn): For “to believe” or “to trust,” 相信 (xiāngxìn) is the much more common and versatile verb in modern Mandarin. While `我信你 (wǒ xìn nǐ)` is grammatically correct and understood, `我相信你 (wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ)` is what you'll hear 99% of the time. Think of the single-character `信` as being more literary, forceful, or used in fixed phrases.
• “Letter” vs. “Message”: A common beginner mistake is to use 信 (xìn) for all types of messages. 信 (xìn) by itself strongly implies a physical, written letter. For a text message, use 短信 (duǎnxìn). For a general digital message or information, use 信息 (xìnxī).
  • Incorrect: 我给你发一个信。 (I'll send you a letter.)
  • Correct: 我给你发一个信息。 (I'll send you a message.)
• False Friend with “Faith”: While 信 can mean faith (especially in 信仰), it's not a direct equivalent. In English, “faith” often defaults to a religious context. The base meaning of 信 (xìn) is more grounded in interpersonal reliability and secular integrity. Don't assume 信 always implies a spiritual belief.

• 相信 (xiāngxìn) - The most common verb for “to believe” or “to trust.”
• 信心 (xìnxīn) - Confidence; faith in oneself or an outcome.
• 信任 (xìnrèn) - Trust; reliance (a slightly more formal noun/verb than 相信).
• 信息 (xìnxī) - Information, message, news (especially digital).
• 信用 (xìnyòng) - Credit, trustworthiness, credibility (especially in business/finance).
• 信仰 (xìnyǎng) - Faith, belief (typically in a religion, philosophy, or ideology).
• 迷信 (míxìn) - Superstition; literally “confused belief.”
• 短信 (duǎnxìn) - Text message, SMS; literally “short message.”
• 信封 (xìnfēng) - Envelope.
• 诚实 (chéngshí) - Honest; a personal quality required to earn 信.