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自信 (zì xìn) — self-confidence; confident

Definition

Self-confidence, belief in one's own ability. 信心 is confidence aimed outward (in someone or a plan); 信任 is trusting others. 自信 is about yourself only.

self-confidenceconfident

Examples

  • 自信。
    Tā kàn qǐ lái hěn zì xìn.
    He looks very confident.
  • 自信。
    zì xìn Hěn zhòng yào.
    Self-confidence is very important.
  • 自信。
    Wǒ zì xìn wǒ néng wán chéng zhè ge rèn wu.
    I am confident I can complete this task.

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.

自zìself
信xìntrust

自 points to the person and 信 means trust, giving confidence in oneself.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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
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