自信

• Pinyin: zì xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 自 = pictograph of a nose, symbolising self; 信 = 人 (person) + 言 (speech), trust or belief

Meaning

To be self-confident; confidence in oneself. Describes a belief in one's own abilities or judgement.

Can function as a verb (她很自信 'she is very confident') or attributive modifier (自信的微笑 'a confident smile'). The opposite is 自卑 (inferiority complex). 自信心 is the noun form meaning 'self-confidence'. Building 自信 is a common theme in Chinese education and motivational discourse.

Examples

1. 她站在舞台上表演时非常自信，一点也不紧张。 She was very confident when performing on stage and was not nervous at all.
2. 多参加社交活动可以帮助孩子建立自信心。 Taking part in more social activities can help children build self-confidence.
3. 他对自己的方案很自信，坚持不肯修改。 He was very confident in his own proposal and refused to revise it.

Usage Guide

Context: personal development, education, workplace

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 你要对自己更自信一点。(You should be a bit more confident in yourself.)
• 她带着自信的微笑走进了面试室。(She walked into the interview room with a confident smile.)

Don't Say

• 用'自信'形容物体 (Don't apply 自信 to inanimate objects — it describes a person's psychological state, not objects or events)

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (self) and 信 (to trust/believe). Literally 'to trust in oneself'. Widely used in modern Chinese to describe psychological self-assurance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal