诚信

• Pinyin: chéng xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 诚 = 讠(speech) + 成 (become, phonetic), meaning sincere; 信 = 亻(person) + 言 (speech), meaning trust or letter

Meaning

Integrity; trustworthiness. The quality of being honest and keeping one's promises.

A more formal and principled concept than 诚实. Emphasizes keeping promises and maintaining credibility in social and business relationships. Frequently used in discussions about business ethics, social values, and personal character. A key value in traditional Chinese moral philosophy.

Examples

1. 做生意最重要的就是诚信。 The most important thing in doing business is integrity.
2. 一个人如果没有诚信，就很难交到朋友。 If a person lacks integrity, it is very hard to make friends.
3. 这家公司一直以诚信经营闻名。 This company has always been known for operating with integrity.

Usage Guide

Context: business, moral, social

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 诚信是做生意的基本原则。(Integrity is a fundamental principle of doing business.)
• 诚信的人总是受到别人的尊重。(People with integrity are always respected by others.)

Don't Say

• 这个小孩很诚信 (For describing children's honesty, use 诚实; 诚信 is more about principled integrity in adult or business contexts)

Origin & History

诚 means sincerity; 信 means trust or faith. Together they describe the combination of sincerity and trustworthiness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal