信仰心

• Reading: しんこうしん
• Romaji: shinkoushin
• Kanji breakdown: 信 (shin) — trust, believe; 仰 (kou) — look up to, revere; 心 (shin) — heart, mind
• Pronunciation: /ɕiɴ.koː.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Piety; religious faith; devotion. A deep and sincere belief in a religion or spiritual practice.

A noun describing the inner feeling of religious devotion or faith. Composed of 信仰 (shinkou, religious belief/faith) + 心 (shin, heart/mind), it emphasises the heartfelt, personal aspect of faith rather than outward ritual. Often used to describe someone who genuinely believes in their religion. Common collocations include 信仰心が厚い (shinkoushin ga atsui, deeply devout) and 信仰心が薄い (shinkoushin ga usui, lacking in faith).

Examples

1. 祖母は信仰心が厚く、毎朝お祈りを欠かさない。 My grandmother is deeply devout and never misses her morning prayers.
2. 信仰心の強い人々がその祭りを支えてきた。 People with strong faith have long supported that festival.
3. 現代では信仰心が薄れてきたと言われている。 It is said that religious devotion has been fading in modern times.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, spirituality, cultural discussion

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 信 (shin, trust/believe) + 仰 (kou, look up to/revere) + 心 (shin, heart/mind). Literally 'a heart that looks up in trust' — the inner spirit of religious devotion.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal