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March 24, 2026
自信zìxìn(zi4xin4)
自信 (zìxìn) means to have confidence in oneself or self-confidence. It is often used in contexts where individuals express belief in their abilities or decisions, playing a crucial role in personal development and success. This word embodies the idea of trusting one's judgment and capabilities.
Frequency#2030DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
Confidence is often emphasized in Chinese culture as a trait that can lead to success in both personal and professional realms. In educational settings, students are encouraged to develop 自信 to help them perform better and participate more actively.
Memory Tip
Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 信 (xìn) as 'trust' or 'believe'. Imagine a character looking in a mirror, confidently saying, 'I trust myself!' This visual reinforces both the meaning and pronunciation of 自信.
Meanings of 自信
zìxìn(zi4xin4)
1to have confidence in oneself
2self-confidence
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About 自信
自信Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2030Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 自信
Podcast: 自信
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AI Study Notes for 自信
Quick Contrast
自信 (zìxìn) vs 自负 (zìfù) — choose 自信 for a positive sense of self-confidence, while 自负 implies arrogance or overconfidence.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 信 (xìn) as 'trust' or 'believe'. Imagine a character looking in a mirror, confidently saying, 'I trust myself!' This visual reinforces both the meaning and pronunciation of 自信.
Usage Notes
Be mindful to use 自信 in contexts relating to personal belief rather than arrogance. Common collocations include 自信心 (zìxìn xīn - self-confidence) and 增强自信 (zēngqiáng zìxìn - to enhance self-confidence). Also, remember that it's important to use the correct tones; mispronouncing can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 自信 connects to other vocabulary related to personal qualities and feelings. Focus on using it in sentences about personal experiences or aspirations to reinforce understanding.
Cultural Note
Confidence is often emphasized in Chinese culture as a trait that can lead to success in both personal and professional realms. In educational settings, students are encouraged to develop 自信 to help them perform better and participate more actively.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 自信 with 自负 (zìfù), which means arrogance. For example, saying '他很自负' (Tā hěn zìfù) incorrectly implies he is confident in a negative way. The correct usage for a positive context would be '他很自信' (Tā hěn zìxìn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 自信
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Grammar Patterns of 自信
自信 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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.
Six months later John had developed literacy and numeracy skills, plus confidence.
5
培养一种自信的积极心态会让人受益匪浅。
péi yǎng yī zhǒng zì xìn de jī jí xīn tài huì ràng rén shòu yì fěi qiǎn。
Cultivating a positive mental attitude towards yourself can reap tremendous benefits.
6
即使是最有天赋的人也可能会被错误的导师摧毁自信。
jí shǐ shì zuì yǒu tiān fù de rén yě kě néng huì bèi cuò wù de dǎo shī cuī huǐ zì xìn。
Even the most gifted can have confidence destroyed by the wrong instructor.
7
许多十几岁的孩子既缺乏自信又不够懂事，所以感情上十分脆弱。
xǔ duō shí jī suì de hái zǐ jì quē fá zì xìn yòu bù gòu dǒng shì， ， suǒ yǐ gǎn qíng shàng shí fēn cuì。
Lacking self-confidence and maturity, many teenagers are left feeling very vulnerable.
8
他们感到要为自己加油打气，自信满满地去打比赛并不容易。
tā mén gǎn dào yào wéi zì jǐ jiā yóu dǎ qì， ， zì xìn mǎn mǎn dì qù dǎ bǐ sài bìng bù róng。
They find it difficult to pump themselves up for the games.
9
他有一种活泼外向的幽默感，看上去大方自信。
tā yǒu yī zhǒng huó pō wài xiàng de yōu mò gǎn， ， kàn shàng qù dà fāng zì。
He has a lively sense of humour and appears naturally confident.
10
他们的话是对我自信心的一次重大打击。
tā mén de huà shì duì wǒ zì xìn xīn de yī cì zhòng dà dǎ jī。
What they said was a real knock to my self-confidence.
Cultural Notes for 自信
🏮Cultural insight
Confidence is often emphasized in Chinese culture as a trait that can lead to success in both personal and professional realms. In educational settings, students are encouraged to develop 自信 to help them perform better and participate more actively.
Frequently Asked Questions about 自信
You can say, '我对我的能力很自信' (Wǒ duì wǒ de nénglì hěn zìxìn) which means 'I am very confident in my abilities.'
Primarily, yes, 自信 refers to self-confidence, but it can also describe confidence in a specific situation or task.
Yes, 自信 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile in conversation.
