Faith and belief in Chinese encompass trust, honesty, and spiritual devotion. Learn about 信 and other characters that express these profound concepts.
The Character 信 (Xìn)
信 is a powerful character that combines multiple meanings:
- Faith - Belief in something
- Trust - Confidence in someone
- Honesty - Being truthful
- Letter/Message - Communication
The Composition of 信
The character is made of:
- 亻(人) - Person
- 言 - Words, speech
Together: A person who keeps their word - trustworthy, faithful.
Related Faith Concepts
信仰 (Xìnyǎng) - Faith, Belief
Religious or spiritual faith, deep conviction.
相信 (Xiāngxìn) - Believe, Trust
To believe in something or someone.
信念 (Xìnniàn) - Conviction, Faith
Strong personal belief or principle.
信心 (Xìnxīn) - Confidence
Faith in oneself, self-confidence.
Confucian Virtue: 信
信 is one of the Five Confucian Constants (五常):
- 仁 (Rén) - Benevolence
- 义 (Yì) - Righteousness
- 礼 (Lǐ) - Propriety
- 智 (Zhì) - Wisdom
- 信 (Xìn) - Faithfulness
Popular Faith Tattoo Options
- 信 (Xìn) - Single character for faith/trust
- 信仰 (Xìnyǎng) - Religious/spiritual faith
- 信念 (Xìnniàn) - Conviction, belief
- 信心 (Xìnxīn) - Confidence
- 誠信 (Chéngxìn) - Integrity and honesty
- 守信 (Shǒuxìn) - Keep one's word
Religious Context
In religious contexts, faith is expressed as:
- 信佛 (Xìn fó) - Believe in Buddhism
- 信主 (Xìn zhǔ) - Believe in God/Christ
- 信徒 (Xìntú) - Believer, follower
Which to Choose?
| Meaning | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| General faith/trust | 信 (Xìn) |
| Religious faith | 信仰 (Xìnyǎng) |
| Personal conviction | 信念 (Xìnniàn) |
| Self-confidence | 信心 (Xìnxīn) |
| Integrity | 誠信 (Chéngxìn) |
Calligraphy Styles
For faith characters, dignified styles work well:
- Kaishu (楷书) - Clear and honest
- Xingshu (行书) - Flowing with conviction