信じる

• Reading: しんじる
• Romaji: shinjiru
• Kanji breakdown: 信 (shin) — trust, faith, belief
• Pronunciation: /ɕin.dʑi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To believe; to trust; to have faith in. Used for believing in people, ideas, or statements.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る. Can take both を (to believe something) and に (to believe in something or someone). Used across registers from casual conversation to formal speech. Related form: 信じられない (unbelievable, often used as an exclamation).

Examples

1. 彼女の言葉を信じることにした。 I decided to believe her words.
2. 自分の力を信じて最後まで頑張ろう。 Believe in your own abilities and keep going until the end.
3. そんな話は信じられない。 I can't believe a story like that.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, relationships, religion

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 信 (shin, trust/faith) and じる (verbal suffix). The kanji 信 combines 人 (person) and 言 (word), meaning a person true to their word.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal