信心

• Pinyin: xìn xīn
• Hanzi breakdown: 信 = 亻(person) + 言 (speech); 心 = pictograph of the heart

Meaning

Confidence or faith. The belief in oneself or in a positive outcome.

信心 emphasises inner belief and self-assurance. It is often used with 有 (have) or 没有 (don't have) to express whether someone feels confident. Related words include 自信 (self-confident) and 相信 (to believe).

Examples

1. 我对这次考试很有信心。 I am very confident about this exam.
2. 你要对自己有信心。 You should have confidence in yourself.
3. 他失去了信心，不想再试了。 He lost confidence and didn't want to try again.

Usage Guide

Context: encouragement, self-improvement

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 我对未来很有信心。(I have great confidence in the future.)
• 别怕，要有信心！(Don't be afraid, have confidence!)

Don't Say

• 我很信心 (信心 is a noun, not an adjective — say 我很有信心 instead)

Origin & History

信 means 'trust' or 'believe,' and 心 means 'heart' or 'mind.' Together they mean 'a trusting heart' — confidence.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal