xiāngxìn: 相信 - To Believe, To Trust

• Keywords: 相信, xiangxin, Chinese for believe, Chinese for trust, believe in Chinese, trust in Chinese, Mandarin word for faith, 信任, 信仰, HSK 3 vocabulary, how to say I believe you in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 相信 (xiāngxìn), which means “to believe” or “to trust.” This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. Discover how 相信 is used to express belief in facts, trust in people, and even personal faith, with 10 practical example sentences, audio, and analysis for beginners. Understand the key differences between 相信 (xiāngxìn), 信任 (xìnrèn), and 信仰 (xìnyǎng) to use them like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiāngxìn
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: To believe in, to be convinced of; to trust.
• In a Nutshell: 相信 (xiāngxìn) is the go-to word in Mandarin for expressing belief or trust. It's a versatile verb that covers everything from believing a statement is true (“I believe what you said”) to having trust in a person (“I believe in you”) and expressing a personal conviction (“I believe tomorrow will be better”). It blends the concepts of intellectual assent and relational trust.

• 相 (xiāng): This character means “mutual,” “reciprocal,” or “each other.” It often acts as a prefix to indicate an action done between two parties. Think of it as the “inter-” in “interact.”
• 信 (xìn): This character is a powerful one in Chinese culture. It's a combination of the radical for “person” (人) and “speech” (言). Together, they form the idea of a person standing by their word—meaning “trust,” “faith,” “truthfulness,” or “a letter.”

When combined, 相 (xiāng) and 信 (xìn) literally create the idea of “mutual trust.” While it can mean this, its modern usage has broadened to simply mean “to believe” or “to trust,” even when the action isn't strictly mutual.

The character 信 (xìn) is one of the five core virtues of Confucianism (五常, wǔcháng), representing integrity, trustworthiness, and faithfulness. In Chinese society, being a person of your word is fundamental to building relationships, whether in business or personal life. A person without 信 (xìn) is seen as unreliable and will struggle to gain respect. While 相信 (xiāngxìn) is the everyday verb form, it carries this cultural weight. It's not just a casual word. When you say “我相信你” (Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ - I believe/trust you), you are making a significant statement about your faith in that person's words or character. Compared to the English word “believe,” 相信 (xiāngxìn) is very similar in most daily contexts. However, the Western concept of “faith,” especially in a religious sense, is often better captured by the more profound term 信仰 (xìnyǎng). You can 相信 God exists (相信有上帝), but your “faith” or belief system is your 信仰. 相信 is the action; 信仰 is the state of being or the system itself.

相信 (xiāngxìn) is an extremely common word used in all registers of speech.

• In Conversation: It's used to agree with someone, express trust, or state an opinion. For example, “我相信你” (I believe you) or “我相信这是个好主意” (I believe this is a good idea).
• Encouragement: A very common and powerful use is in encouragement. Telling someone “相信自己!” (xiāngxìn zìjǐ!) means “Believe in yourself!” It’s a frequent phrase used by parents, teachers, and friends.
• Expressing Skepticism: The negative form, 不相信 (bù xiāngxìn), is used to express disbelief or doubt. “我不相信!” (I don't believe it!).
• Formal/Business Context: In business, it can convey confidence in a plan or trust in a partner. “我们相信，这次合作一定会成功。” (We believe this cooperation will certainly be successful.)

• Example 1:
• 我相信你。
• Pinyin: Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ.
• English: I believe you / I trust you.
• Analysis: This is the most direct and common way to express trust in a person. It can refer to believing what they're saying is true or having faith in them as a person.
• Example 2:
• 你要相信自己的能力。
• Pinyin: Nǐ yào xiāngxìn zìjǐ de nénglì.
• English: You have to believe in your own abilities.
• Analysis: A classic sentence of encouragement. 相信自己 (xiāngxìn zìjǐ), “believe in yourself,” is a very common and powerful phrase.
• Example 3:
• 我不相信他说的每一句话。
• Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiāngxìn tā shuō de měi yí jù huà.
• English: I don't believe every word he says.
• Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the negative form 不相信 (bù xiāngxìn) to express doubt or disbelief about a statement.
• Example 4:
• 我相信明天天气会很好。
• Pinyin: Wǒ xiāngxìn míngtiān tiānqì huì hěn hǎo.
• English: I believe the weather will be great tomorrow.
• Analysis: Here, 相信 is used to express an opinion or a prediction, similar to “I think” or “I bet” in English, but with a stronger sense of conviction.
• Example 5:
• 我简直不敢相信我的眼睛！
• Pinyin: Wǒ jiǎnzhí bù gǎn xiāngxìn wǒ de yǎnjīng!
• English: I simply can't believe my eyes!
• Analysis: A common exclamation of surprise or shock. The structure 不敢相信 (bù gǎn xiāngxìn) means “dare not believe.”
• Example 6:
• 他是一个值得相信的人。
• Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge zhídé xiāngxìn de rén.
• English: He is a person worth believing/trusting.
• Analysis: The phrase 值得相信 (zhídé xiāngxìn) means “worthy of trust.” It's a great way to describe someone reliable.
• Example 7:
• 你真的相信有外星人吗？
• Pinyin: Nǐ zhēn de xiāngxìn yǒu wàixīngrén ma?
• English: Do you really believe that aliens exist?
• Analysis: This shows 相信 being used to ask about belief in a concept or the existence of something.
• Example 8:
• 夫妻之间最重要的就是互相相信。
• Pinyin: Fūqī zhījiān zuì zhòngyào de jiùshì hùxiāng xiāngxìn.
• English: The most important thing between a husband and wife is to trust each other.
• Analysis: Using 互相 (hùxiāng), meaning “mutually,” reinforces the original meaning of the character 相 (xiāng). This emphasizes reciprocal trust in a relationship.
• Example 9:
• 我们相信，通过努力，我们一定能成功。
• Pinyin: Wǒmen xiāngxìn, tōngguò nǔlì, wǒmen yídìng néng chénggōng.
• English: We believe that through hard work, we can definitely succeed.
• Analysis: This is a more formal usage, common in speeches, reports, or business meetings, to express strong confidence in a future outcome.
• Example 10:
• 虽然很难，但我相信他能做到。
• Pinyin: Suīrán hěn nán, dàn wǒ xiāngxìn tā néng zuòdào.
• English: Although it's very difficult, I believe he can do it.
• Analysis: This shows how 相信 is used to express faith in someone's capabilities, even in the face of challenges.

A major point of confusion for learners is the difference between 相信 (xiāngxìn) and 信任 (xìnrèn).

• 相信 (xiāngxìn): Broader meaning. You can 相信 a fact, a statement, or a person. It's about accepting something as true or having a general faith in someone.
  • Example: 我相信你说的话。(Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ shuō de huà.) - I believe what you said. (Believing a statement)
• 信任 (xìnrèn): Deeper, more profound trust. This refers specifically to having trust and confidence in a person's character, integrity, and reliability. It's earned over time. You don't 信任 a fact; you 信任 a person.
  • Example: 他是我最信任的朋友。(Tā shì wǒ zuì xìnrèn de péngyou.) - He is the friend I trust the most. (Deep trust in a person's character)

Common Mistake: Using 相信 when you mean “to think” or “to assume incorrectly.” For this, you should use 以为 (yǐwéi).

• Incorrect: 我相信今天是星期一，但其实是星期二。(I believed today was Monday, but it's actually Tuesday.)
• Correct: 我以为今天是星期一，但其实是星期二。(Wǒ yǐwéi jīntiān shì xīngqīyī, dàn qíshí shì xīngqī'èr.) - I (mistakenly) thought today was Monday, but it's actually Tuesday.

• 信任 (xìnrèn) - A deeper, more profound form of trust in a person's character and reliability. More specific than 相信.
• 信仰 (xìnyǎng) - Faith, conviction, or a belief system (often religious). More formal and profound.
• 怀疑 (huáiyí) - To doubt, to be skeptical. The direct antonym of 相信.
• 自信 (zìxìn) - Self-confidence. Comes from 相信自己 (xiāngxìn zìjǐ), to believe in oneself.
• 信 (xìn) - The core concept of “trust,” “faithfulness,” and “integrity.” Also means “letter” (as in mail).
• 以为 (yǐwéi) - To assume or to think (often incorrectly).
• 可靠 (kěkào) - An adjective meaning reliable or trustworthy. A person who is 可靠 is someone you can 相信.
• 信赖 (xìnlài) - To trust and rely on. Very similar to 信任, emphasizing reliance.