Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xìnrèn: 信任 - Trust, To Trust, To Have Confidence In ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 信任, xìnrèn, Chinese word for trust, how to say trust in Chinese, what is xìnrèn, believe vs trust in Chinese, 相信 vs 信任, Chinese culture trust, guānxi and trust, HSK 4 vocabulary. * **Summary:** Learn the deep meaning of **信任 (xìnrèn)**, the essential Chinese word for "trust" and "to trust." This guide explores its cultural significance beyond a simple translation, breaking down the characters 信 and 任, and comparing it to the Western concept of trust. Discover how to use **信任 (xìnrèn)** correctly in business, relationships, and daily conversation with practical examples, and learn the crucial difference between **信任 (xìnrèn)** and **相信 (xiāngxìn)**. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xìn rèn * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 * **Concise Definition:** To trust someone's character and reliability; the state of trust or confidence. * **In a Nutshell:** **信任 (xìnrèn)** is more than just believing what someone says. It's a deep, foundational trust in a person's integrity and competence, built over time through consistent, reliable actions. It implies you can count on them and are willing to place something of value—a task, a secret, or your own vulnerability—in their hands. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **信 (xìn):** This character is a combination of 人 (rén - person) and 言 (yán - word/speech). Pictorially, it represents a person standing by their word. Its core meaning is "truth," "faith," "belief," or "a letter." * **任 (rèn):** This character combines 人 (rén - person) with a component that historically represented a person carrying a heavy load or a burden. It means "responsibility," "duty," "to appoint," or "to rely on." When combined, **信任 (xìnrèn)** literally means to "believe in someone's responsibility" or to have "faith in their ability to carry a burden." This beautifully illustrates the concept of entrusting someone with something important, confident that they are reliable and capable. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, **信任 (xìnrèn)** is the bedrock of all meaningful relationships, from business to personal life. It's a cornerstone of the famous concept of [[关系]] (guānxi). While in the West, the mantra "trust, but verify" is common, in Chinese culture, the need to constantly "verify" someone you deeply **信任 (xìnrèn)** can be perceived as an insult. Once established, **信任 (xìnrèn)** implies a near-unconditional reliance on the other person's character and goodwill. It's earned through long-term observation of a person's actions, consistency, and loyalty—not given freely. Losing someone's **信任 (xìnrèn)** can be catastrophic for a relationship, as it suggests a fundamental failure of character. Rebuilding it is a slow and arduous process. In business, establishing genuine **信任 (xìnrèn)** is often more important than the fine print on a contract, as it ensures long-term cooperation and mutual support. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **信任 (xìnrèn)** is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. * **As a Verb (to trust):** It's used to express one's confidence in another person or entity. * //我完全**信任**你。// (Wǒ wánquán xìnrèn nǐ.) - I completely trust you. * **As a Noun (trust):** It's used to talk about the concept of trust itself. * //**信任**是关系的基础。// (Xìnrèn shì guānxì de jīchǔ.) - Trust is the foundation of a relationship. * **In Business:** Building **信任 (xìnrèn)** with clients (客户, kèhù) and partners (合作伙伴, hézuò huǒbàn) is paramount. Discussions often revolve around how to 建立信任 (jiànlì xìnrèn - establish trust) and 赢得信任 (yíngdé xìnrèn - win trust). * **In Personal Relationships:** It describes the emotional bond between friends and family. A breach of trust is often described as 背叛了我的信任 (bèipànle wǒ de xìnrèn - betrayed my trust). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 他是我最**信任**的朋友。 * Pinyin: Tā shì wǒ zuì **xìnrèn** de péngyǒu. * English: He is the friend I trust the most. * Analysis: Here, **信任** is used as a verb within a descriptive clause. It describes the specific quality of the friend—the one who is most trusted. * **Example 2:** * **信任**一旦被打破，就很难重建。 * Pinyin: **Xìnrèn** yídàn bèi dǎpò, jiù hěn nán chóngjiàn. * English: Once trust is broken, it is very difficult to rebuild. * Analysis: In this sentence, **信任** functions as a noun, the subject of the sentence. This is a common saying that highlights the fragile and precious nature of trust. * **Example 3:** * 经理**信任**他，所以把这个重要的项目交给了他。 * Pinyin: Jīnglǐ **xìnrèn** tā, suǒyǐ bǎ zhège zhòngyào de xiàngmù jiāo gěi le tā. * English: The manager trusts him, so she gave this important project to him. * Analysis: This shows the direct consequence of **信任**. The trust (the cause) leads to being given responsibility (the effect). This links back to the character 任 (rèn - responsibility). * **Example 4:** * 我们之间的**信任**已经不存在了。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen zhījiān de **xìnrèn** yǐjīng bù cúnzài le. * English: The trust between us no longer exists. * Analysis: A common and dramatic way to state the end of a close relationship. **信任** is a noun here, representing the entire foundation that has crumbled. * **Example 5:** * 你为什么不**信任**我呢？ * Pinyin: Nǐ wèishéme bù **xìnrèn** wǒ ne? * English: Why don't you trust me? * Analysis: A simple but powerful question. The verb **信任** is negated with 不 (bù). This is a question you'd ask someone close to you. * **Example 6:** * 要赢得客户的**信任**，我们需要提供优质的服务。 * Pinyin: Yào yíngdé kèhù de **xìnrèn**, wǒmen xūyào tígōng yōuzhì de fúwù. * English: To win customers' trust, we need to provide high-quality service. * Analysis: A classic business context. Here, **信任** is a noun, the object that needs to be "won" (赢得, yíngdé). * **Example 7:** * 这是一个值得**信任**的品牌。 * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge zhídé **xìnrèn** de pǐnpái. * English: This is a trustworthy brand. * Analysis: The phrase 值得信任 (zhídé xìnrèn) means "worth trusting" or "trustworthy." It's a very common construction used to describe people, companies, or products. * **Example 8:** * 她辜负了父母对她的**信任**。 * Pinyin: Tā gūfùle fùmǔ duì tā de **xìnrèn**. * English: She let down the trust her parents had in her. * Analysis: 辜负 (gūfù) is a strong verb meaning "to let down" or "to fail to live up to (expectations, trust)." It pairs perfectly with **信任** to express the idea of betrayal or disappointment. * **Example 9:** * 出于对你的**信任**，我才告诉你这个秘密。 * Pinyin: Chūyú duì nǐ de **xìnrèn**, wǒ cái gàosù nǐ zhège mìmì. * English: It is only out of trust for you that I am telling you this secret. * Analysis: The phrase 出于... (chūyú...) means "out of" or "stemming from." This sentence structure emphasizes that trust is the sole reason for the action. * **Example 10:** * 建立相互**信任**是成功合作的第一步。 * Pinyin: Jiànlì xiānghù **xìnrèn** shì chénggōng hézuò de dì yī bù. * English: Establishing mutual trust is the first step to successful cooperation. * Analysis: The word 相互 (xiānghù - mutual) is often paired with **信任** to stress that trust must be a two-way street, especially in partnerships. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is confusing **信任 (xìnrèn)** with **相信 (xiāngxìn)**. * **相信 (xiāngxìn) = To Believe (a statement, a fact, a possibility)** * Use this for things you believe to be true. * Correct: 我**相信**他说的都是真的。(Wǒ **xiāngxìn** tā shuō de dōu shì zhēn de.) - I believe everything he said is true. * Correct: 我**相信**明天会晴天。(Wǒ **xiāngxìn** míngtiān huì qíngtiān.) - I believe it will be sunny tomorrow. * **信任 (xìnrèn) = To Trust (a person's character, integrity, reliability)** * Use this when you are entrusting someone with responsibility or have faith in their character. * Correct: 我**信任**他这个人。(Wǒ **xìnrèn** tā zhège rén.) - I trust him as a person. * **Incorrect Usage:** //我**信任**明天会晴天。// (Wǒ xìnrèn míngtiān huì qíngtiān.) * **Why it's wrong:** You can't "trust" the weather's character or give it a responsibility. You can only "believe" in the possibility of a sunny day. You must use **相信 (xiāngxìn)** here. **Rule of Thumb:** If you can replace "trust" with "believe that..." in English, use **相信 (xiāngxìn)**. If you mean "trust someone with something" or "have faith in their character," use **信任 (xìnrèn)**. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[相信]] (xiāngxìn) - To believe. The act of accepting a statement as true, which is a component of trust but not the whole picture. * [[信用]] (xìnyòng) - Credit, credibility. The quantifiable reputation of being trustworthy, especially in finance and commerce (e.g., credit score, company credit). * [[可靠]] (kěkào) - Reliable, dependable. An adjective describing a person or thing that is worthy of **信任**. * [[怀疑]] (huáiyí) - To doubt, to suspect. The direct antonym of both **信任** and **相信**. * [[背叛]] (bèipàn) - To betray. The ultimate violation of **信任**. * [[忠诚]] (zhōngchéng) - Loyalty, allegiance. A quality that often inspires **信任**. * [[关系]] (guānxi) - Relationships, connections. A social network built upon layers of interaction, favor exchange, and, most importantly, **信任**. * [[信仰]] (xìnyǎng) - Faith, creed (often religious or ideological). A much stronger, more absolute belief system than **信任**.