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笃信 (dǔ xìn) — to sincerely believe in (a principle, religion, or philosophy); to have strong faith in

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning to sincerely and firmly believe in a principle, religion, or philosophy. Much stronger and more literary than the everyday 相信.

verb
to sincerely believe in (a principle, religion, or philosophy)to have strong faith in

Examples

  • 笃信，。
    Tā dǔ xìn fó jiào, měi tiān dōu huì dǎ zuò.
    He sincerely believes in Buddhism and meditates every day.
  • 笃信。
    Hěn duō rén dǔ xìn zhè ge lǐ niàn néng gǎi biàn shì jiè.
    Many people sincerely believe that this idea can change the world.
  • 笃信。
    Tā dǔ xìn zhī shi néng dài lái zhēn zhèng de zì yóu.
    She sincerely believes that knowledge brings true freedom.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

笃dǔfirm
信xìnbelieve

The 笃 firm and 信 believe combine to mean sincerely believe in.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 篤; 笃 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
馬馬mǎhorse
Sound part声符shēngfú
竹
竹zhú篤dǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 篤 pairs 馬 (horse) with 竹 for sound; this is about 篤, not about the simplified 笃.

Open 笃 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánwords
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén信xìn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

信 pairs 人 as the sound part with 言 (words) as the meaning part.

Open 信 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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