自信

• Reading: じしん
• Romaji: jishin
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji) — self, oneself; 信 (shin) — trust, believe, faith
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.ɕi.ɴ/

Meaning

Self-confidence; confidence in oneself. Belief in one's own abilities.

A noun that refers specifically to confidence in oneself. Commonly paired with ある (to have) and ない (to lack): 自信がある means confident, while 自信がない means lacking confidence. Different from 信頼 (trust in others) or 確信 (certainty about facts).

Examples

1. 練習をたくさんしたので自信がある。 I practiced a lot, so I feel confident.
2. 日本語に自信がなくて話せなかった。 I wasn't confident in my Japanese, so I couldn't speak.
3. 自信を持って発表してください。 Please present with confidence.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, personal development

Tone: encouraging

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (ji, self) and 信 (shin, trust/believe). Literally means trusting in oneself — having faith in one's own capabilities.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal