信任

• Pinyin: xìn rèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 信 = 亻 (person) + 言 (speech), meaning a person true to their word; 任 = 亻 (person) + 壬 (phonetic)

Meaning

To trust; to have faith in. Confidence in someone's reliability, character, or ability.

Functions as both a verb and a noun. As a verb: 信任某人 (trust someone). As a noun: 建立信任 (build trust), 失去信任 (lose trust). More formal and deeper than 相信 (to believe). Used in personal relationships, professional settings, and social discussions.

Examples

1. 朋友之间最重要的就是信任。 The most important thing between friends is trust.
2. 她完全信任自己的丈夫。 She completely trusts her husband.
3. 一旦失去别人的信任，就很难再得到。 Once you lose someone's trust, it is very hard to regain.

Usage Guide

Context: relationships, work, social

Tone: sincere

Do Say

• 我非常信任你。(I trust you very much.)
• 建立信任需要时间。(Building trust takes time.)

Don't Say

• 我信任明天会下雨。(Don't use 信任 for beliefs about facts or predictions — use 相信. 信任 is about trusting people, not believing statements.)

Origin & History

信 means 'trust' or 'believe' and 任 means 'to entrust' or 'responsibility'. Together they express placing confident reliance on someone.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal