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置信 (zhì xìn) — to believe (formal, often in negative or set phrases)

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to believe or place confidence in' — almost always used in negated or set phrases like 难以置信 ('hard to believe') and 深置信不疑 ('firmly believe').

verb
to believe (formal, often in negative or set phrases)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè jiàn shì shí zài lìng rén nán yǐ zhì xìn.
    This matter is truly hard to believe.
  • 置信。
    Tā duì zì jǐ de shuō fǎ shēn zhì xìn bù yí.
    He firmly believes his own statement without doubt.
  • ，置信。
    Rú cǐ huāng miù de yán lùn, wǒ wú fǎ zhì xìn.
    Such absurd remarks, I cannot believe them.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

置zhìplace
信xìntrust

置 “place” and 信 “trust” together mean placing trust, hence believe.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
罒Written in full as网wǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí置zhì
Same sound today

置 is built from 罒, a net, on top and 直 below; 直 gives the sound.

Open 置 →

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
Thinking & Cognition

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