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March 24, 2026
信xìn(xin4)
The character 信 (xìn) primarily means 'letter' or 'mail,' referring to written communication sent between people. It also conveys the idea of trust or belief, indicating confidence in someone or something, which is an essential aspect of relationships and communication in Chinese culture.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#449DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, trust is a foundational element in relationships, both personal and professional. The concept of 信 is often tied to notions of integrity and reliability, making it a significant aspect of social interactions and business practices.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a letter (信) that symbolizes trust. The character consists of the radical for person (亻) on the left, suggesting human interaction, and the component for 'word' (言) on the right, emphasizing the importance of verbal and written communication in building trust.
Meanings of 信
xìn(xin4)
1letter
2mail
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 信
信Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#449Frequency Rank
封Measure Word
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 信
Podcast: 信
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AI Study Notes for 信
Quick Contrast
信 (xìn, letter) vs 书 (shū, book) — use 信 when referring specifically to personal correspondence, while 书 refers to written works in general.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding a letter (信) that symbolizes trust. The character consists of the radical for person (亻) on the left, suggesting human interaction, and the component for 'word' (言) on the right, emphasizing the importance of verbal and written communication in building trust.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is confusing 信 with 许 (xǔ), which means 'to allow' or 'to promise.' When using 信 in a sentence, it's important to remember its context, as it can refer to both physical letters and abstract concepts of trust. Be cautious with tone; the correct pronunciation is xìn (fourth tone).
HSK Study Tips
信 is relevant for HSK 3 students and helps connect with other words involving communication and belief, such as 说 (shuō - to speak) and 相信 (xiāngxìn - to believe). Focus on using it in sentences related to trust and correspondence.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, trust is a foundational element in relationships, both personal and professional. The concept of 信 is often tied to notions of integrity and reliability, making it a significant aspect of social interactions and business practices.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 信 (xìn) with another character like 心 (xīn), which means 'heart.' For example, saying '我信他' (Wǒ xīn tā) is incorrect; it should be '我信他' (Wǒ xìn tā) to convey 'I trust him.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 信
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Grammar Patterns of 信
信 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
nǐ shì zài gān shè rén mén de zōng jiào xìn yǎng， ， tā mén bìng bù xǐ huān nǐ de zuò。
You are messing with people's religion and they don't like that.
Cultural Notes for 信
💡Did you know?
'信' is often used in phrases that express trust, such as '信任' (xìnrèn), meaning to trust someone. Trust is a vital aspect of Chinese culture, often reflected in relationships and business dealings.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, trust is a foundational element in relationships, both personal and professional. The concept of 信 is often tied to notions of integrity and reliability, making it a significant aspect of social interactions and business practices.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of trust is often more individualistic, whereas in Chinese culture, trust is frequently linked to familial and community ties.
Word Family of 信
Words Containing This Character20
相信xiāngxìnto believe
信xìnletter
信息xìnxīnews
信任xìnrènto trust
信号xìnhàosignal信號
信心xìnxīnconfidence
自信zìxìnself-confidence
信仰xìnyǎngfirm belief
通信tōngxìnto communicate
电信diànxìntelecommunications電信
难以置信nányǐzhìxìnhard to believe難以置信
信用卡xìnyòngkǎcredit card
信用xìnyòngto trust
确信quèxìnto be sure確信
信息化informatization (the Information Age analog of industrialization)
信贷xìndàicredit信貸
信念xìnniànfaith
写信to write a letter寫信
坚信jiānxìnto believe firmly堅信
来信láixìnincoming letter來信
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 相信 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 信
Yes, 信 can be used in both written and spoken Chinese. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and in formal writing, such as letters or emails.
信 (xìn) generally refers to trust or a letter, while 诚信 (chéngxìn) emphasizes integrity and honesty. 诚信 is often used to describe a person's character or moral standing.
You can use 信 in various contexts. For example, you can say '我写了一封信' (Wǒ xiěle yī fēng xìn), which means 'I wrote a letter'. It can also be used in phrases like '相信' (xiāngxìn), meaning 'to believe' or 'to trust'.
信 (xìn) primarily means 'letter' or 'mail'. It can also mean 'to trust' or 'to believe', indicating a sense of faith or truthfulness in someone or something.
You can say '我写了一封信给他' (Wǒ xiěle yī fēng xìn gěi tā), meaning 'I wrote a letter to him.'
No, it also means trust or belief, so you can say '我相信你' (Wǒ xiāngxìn nǐ), meaning 'I trust you.'
The correct pronunciation is xìn, with a fourth tone.
