可信

• Pinyin: kě xìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 可 = able; 信 = 亻(person) + 言 (speech)

Meaning

Credible; trustworthy; believable. Describes information, sources, or people that can be trusted.

Used to evaluate whether something deserves belief or confidence. Commonly applied to news sources, witnesses, evidence, or statements. Often modified by 很, 不, or 最 to indicate degree of credibility.

Examples

1. 这份报告的数据来源非常可信。 The data sources in this report are highly credible.
2. 他说的话有多少可信度，我持怀疑态度。 I'm skeptical about how trustworthy what he says is.
3. 选择可信的新闻来源是获取准确信息的关键。 Choosing credible news sources is key to getting accurate information.

Usage Guide

Context: evaluation, media, trust

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 这个消息不太可信。(This news isn't very credible.)
• 他是一个可信的证人。(He is a trustworthy witness.)

Don't Say

• 这个人很可信的外表。(Don't use 可信 to describe appearance — it describes the trustworthiness of information or character)

Origin & History

Compound of 可 (able to be) + 信 (trusted/believed). Directly means 'able to be trusted.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal