Wiktionary

信

See also: 㐰 and 伩
信 U+4FE1, 信
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4FE1
← 俠
[U+4FE0] 		CJK Unified Ideographs 俢 →
[U+4FE2]

Translingual

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Stroke order
 

Han character

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信 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+7, 9 strokes, cangjie input 人卜一口 (OYMR), four-corner 20261, composition ⿰亻言)

Derived characters

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References

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  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 105, character 25
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 707
  • Dae Jaweon: page 224, character 2
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 165, character 1
  • Unihan data for U+4FE1

Chinese

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Glyph origin

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Historical forms of the character 信
 
s01702
 
s01703
Transcribed ancient scripts
 
L36438
 
L36439
 
L36440
 
L36441
 
L36442
 
L21999
 
L22000
 
L22001
 
L22002
 
L22003
 
L22004
 
L22005
 
L22006
 
L22007
 
L22008
 
L22009
 
L22010
 
L22011
 
L22012
 
L22013
 
L22014
 
L22015
 
L22016
 
L22017
 
L22018
 
L22019
 
L22020
 
L22021
 
L22022
 
L22023
 
L22024
References:

Mostly from Richard Sears' Chinese Etymology site (authorisation),
which in turn draws data from various collections of ancient forms of Chinese characters, including:

  • Shuowen Jiezi (small seal),
  • Jinwen Bian (bronze inscriptions),
  • Liushutong (Liushutong characters) and
  • Yinxu Jiaguwen Bian (oracle bone script).

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意) and phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *hljins): phonetic 人 (OC *njin, “person”) + semantic 言 (“word”).

Etymology 1

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simp. and trad.
 信
2nd round simp. 伩
alternative forms 㐰
孞

Schuessler (2007) reconstructs the Old Chinese minimally as *sin and suggests possible derivation from 允 (OC *winʔ, “to trust; to be true”).

Alternatively, Sagart and Baxter (2012) reconstruct *s-niŋ-s (*s-ni[ŋ]-s in Baxter and Sagart, 2014) and suggest a derivation from 仁 (OC *niŋ, “kind”) with the prefix *s-, probably used to increase its valency.

Pronunciation

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Note: Erhuayin chiefly for "message" sense.
Note: lhin1* - “letter”.
Note:
  • sing3/sêng3 - literary (sêng3 - Jieyang);
  • siang3 - vernacular.
  • Dialectal data
Variety Location 信
Mandarin Beijing /ɕin⁵¹/
Harbin /ɕin⁵³/
Tianjin /ɕin⁵³/
Jinan /ɕiẽ²¹/
Qingdao /siə̃⁴²/
Zhengzhou /sin³¹²/
Xi'an /ɕiẽ⁴⁴/
Xining /ɕiə̃²¹³/
Yinchuan /ɕiŋ¹³/
Lanzhou /ɕĩn¹³/
Ürümqi /ɕiŋ²¹³/
Wuhan /ɕin³⁵/
Chengdu /ɕin¹³/
Guiyang /ɕin²¹³/
Kunming /ɕĩ²¹²/
Nanjing /sin⁴⁴/
Hefei /ɕin⁵³/
Jin Taiyuan /ɕiəŋ⁴⁵/
Pingyao /ɕiŋ³⁵/
Hohhot /ɕĩŋ⁵⁵/
Wu Shanghai /ɕiŋ³⁵/
Suzhou /sin⁵¹³/
Hangzhou /ɕin⁴⁴⁵/
Wenzhou /saŋ⁴²/
Hui Shexian /siʌ̃³²⁴/
Tunxi /sin⁴²/
Xiang Changsha /sin⁵⁵/
Xiangtan /sin⁵⁵/
Gan Nanchang /ɕin⁴⁵/
Hakka Meixian /sin⁵³/
Taoyuan /sin⁵⁵/
Cantonese Guangzhou /søn³³/
Nanning /ɬɐn³³/
Hong Kong /søn³³/
Min Xiamen (Hokkien) /sin²¹/
Fuzhou (Eastern Min) /sɛiŋ²¹²/
Jian'ou (Northern Min) /seiŋ³³/
Shantou (Teochew) /siŋ²¹³/
Haikou (Hainanese) /tin³⁵/
Rime
Character 信
Reading # 1/1
Initial (聲) 心 (16)
Final (韻) 眞 (43)
Tone (調) Departing (H)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) III
Fanqie 息晉切
Baxter sinH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/siɪnH/
Pan
Wuyun 		/sinH/
Shao
Rongfen 		/sjenH/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/sinH/
Li
Rong 		/siĕnH/
Wang
Li 		/sĭĕnH/
Bernhard
Karlgren 		/si̯ĕnH/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		xìn
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		san3
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 信
Reading # 1/1
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		xìn
Middle
Chinese 		‹ sinH ›
Old
Chinese 		/*s-ni[ŋ]-s/
English truthful

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 信
Reading # 1/1
No. 13849
Phonetic
component 		信
Rime
group 		眞
Rime
subdivision 		1
Corresponding
MC rime 		信
Old
Chinese 		/*hljins/
Notes 金文或從人從口，
本指操信符傳言之信使，
故表可信，或從言身聲

Definitions

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信

  1. true; accurate; verifiable
  2. truly; indeed
  3. trustworthy
  4. to believe; to trust in something
    我才不信呢。  ―  Wǒ cái bù xìn ne.  ―  I don't believe it/you.
    信任  ―  xìnrèn  ―  to trust
  5. to believe in (a faith); to be religious in
    我父親信佛教。／我父亲信佛教。  ―  Wǒ fùqīn xìn fójiào.  ―  My father is a Buddhist. (lit. My father believes in Buddhism.)
  6. trust; confidence; faith
    因信稱義／因信称义  ―  yīn xìn chēngyì  ―  to be justified by faith
  7. at will
    信口雌黃／信口雌黄  ―  xìnkǒu cíhuáng  ―  to make irresponsible remarks (lit. to correct someone with at will)
  8. letter (written communication) (Classifier: 封 m c mn)
  9. message; information; news
    信息  ―  xìnxī  ―  message
  10. evidence
    信物  ―  xìnwù  ―  token, keepsake
  11. courier; messenger
  12. Short for 信州 (Xìnzhōu).
  13. (mineralogy) Short for 信石 (xìnshí, “arsenolite”).
  14. a surname, Xin

Synonyms

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  • (true):
  • (to believe):
Dialectal synonyms of 相信 (“to believe”) [map]
Variety Location Words
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) 相信
Northeastern Mandarin Beijing 信
Taiwan 相信
Hulunbuir (Hailar) 相信
Harbin 相信
Shenyang 相信, 信
Malaysia 相信
Singapore 相信
Jilu Mandarin Tianjin 信
Tangshan 信
Cangzhou 信
Baoding 信
Shijiazhuang 信
Jinan 信
Jiaoliao Mandarin Yantai (Muping) 信
Qingdao 信
Central Plains Mandarin Luoyang 信
Wanrong 信
Zhengzhou 信
Xi'an 相信, 信
Xining 相信, 信服, 信
Xuzhou 相信, 信
Lanyin Mandarin Yinchuan 相信, 信
Lanzhou 相信
Ürümqi 信, 相信
Southwestern Mandarin Chengdu 相信, 信, 信實
Chongqing 信
Wuhan 相信, 信
Guiyang 相信, 信
Kunming 相信, 信
Guilin 相信
Liuzhou 相信, 信
Jianghuai Mandarin Nanjing 相信
Yangzhou 相信, 信
Nantong 相信, 信
Hefei 相信, 信
Cantonese Guangzhou 相信, 信
Hong Kong 相信, 信
Yangjiang 相信, 信
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) 信
Singapore (Guangfu) 信
Gan Nanchang 相信, 信
Pingxiang 信
Hakka Meixian 相信
Yudu 相信
Miaoli (N. Sixian) 相信
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) 相信
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) 相信
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) 相信
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) 相信
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) 相信
Huizhou Jixi 相信
Jin Taiyuan 相信, 信
Xinzhou 相信, 信
Linhe 相信, 信
Jining 相信
Hohhot 相信, 信
Zhangjiakou 相信
Handan 相信, 信
Northern Min Jian'ou 相信
Eastern Min Fuzhou 相信, 信用, 信
Southern Min Xiamen 相信
Quanzhou 相信
Zhangzhou 相信
Tainan 相信
Penang (Hokkien) 相信
Singapore (Hokkien) 相信
Manila (Hokkien) 相信
Chaozhou 相信
Jieyang 相信, 相
Singapore (Teochew) 相信
Leizhou 信
Haikou 相信
Southern Pinghua Nanning (Tingzi) 相信
Wu Shanghai 相信
Shanghai (Chongming) 相信
Suzhou 相信
Danyang 相信
Hangzhou 相信
Ningbo 相信
Wenzhou 相信, 信
Jinhua 相信
Xiang Changsha 信
Loudi 信
Shuangfeng 相信, 信
  • (to believe in a faith): 信仰 (xìnyǎng)
  • (letter):
Dialectal synonyms of 信 (“letter”) [map]
Variety Location Words
Classical Chinese 書, 函, 書札, 書函, 便紙 Korea
Formal (Written Standard Chinese) 信, 函, 書信, 信件, 信函, 信札, 函件, 書函, 書簡, 書牘, 書札
Northeastern Mandarin Beijing 信
Taiwan 信
Malaysia 信
Singapore 信
Jilu Mandarin Jinan 信
Jiaoliao Mandarin Yantai (Muping) 信
Central Plains Mandarin Luoyang 信
Wanrong 信
Xi'an 信
Xining 信
Xuzhou 信
Lanyin Mandarin Yinchuan 信
Lanzhou 信
Ürümqi 信
Southwestern Mandarin Chengdu 信
Wuhan 信
Guiyang 信
Guilin 信
Liuzhou 信
Dagudi (Maliba) 信
Reshuitang (Longling) 信
Mae Salong (Lancang) 信
Mae Sai (Tengchong) 信
Jianghuai Mandarin Nanjing 信
Yangzhou 信
Hefei 信
Cantonese Guangzhou 信
Hong Kong 信
Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) 信
Macau 信
Guangzhou (Panyu) 信
Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) 信
Guangzhou (Conghua) 信
Guangzhou (Zengcheng) 信
Foshan 信
Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) 信
Foshan (Shunde) 信
Foshan (Sanshui) 信
Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) 信
Zhongshan (Shiqi) 信
Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) 信
Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) 信
Zhuhai (Doumen) 信
Jiangmen (Baisha) 信
Jiangmen (Xinhui) 信
Taishan 信
Kaiping (Chikan) 信
Enping (Niujiang) 信
Heshan (Yayao) 信
Dongguan 信
Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) 信
Shaoguan 信
Yunfu 信
Yangjiang 信
Xinyi 信
Lianjiang 信
Beihai 信
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) 信
Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) 信
Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) 信
Singapore (Guangfu) 信
Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) 信
Móng Cái 信
Gan Nanchang 信
Lichuan 信
Pingxiang 信
Hakka Meixian 信
Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) 信
Dongguan (Qingxi) 信
Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) 信
Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) 信
Wuhua (Shuizhai) 信
Wuhua (Huacheng) 信
Wuhua (Changbu) 信
Wuhua (Mianyang) 信
Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) 信
Luhe 信仔
Yudu 信
Miaoli (N. Sixian) 信仔
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) 信仔
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) 信仔
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) 信
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) 信仔, 信
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) 批, 信
Hong Kong 信
Huizhou Jixi 信
Jin Taiyuan 信
Xinzhou 信
Northern Min Jian'ou 信
Songxi 信
Jianyang 信
Eastern Min Fuzhou 批
Gutian 批
Pingnan 批, 信
Ningde 批
Zhouning 批
Fuding 信
Matsu 批
Singapore (Fuqing) 批
Southern Min Xiamen 批, 批信
Quanzhou 批, 批信
Yongchun 批
Zhangzhou 批, 批信
Zhao'an 批
Taipei 批
New Taipei (Sanxia) 批
Kaohsiung 批
Yilan 批
Changhua (Lukang) 批
Taichung 批
Taichung (Wuqi) 批
Tainan 批, 批信
Taitung 批
Hsinchu 批
Kinmen 批
Penghu (Magong) 批
Penang (Hokkien) 批
Singapore (Hokkien) 批, 批信
Manila (Hokkien) 批
Longyan 信
Datian 信
Chaozhou 信, 批 international incoming letters
Bangkok (Teochew) 信, 家批 dated
Singapore (Teochew) 信, 批
Batam (Teochew) 信
Leizhou 信
Wenchang 信 domestic, 批 international
Haikou 信
Singapore (Hainanese) 信, 批
Puxian Min Putian 批
Xianyou 批
Fuding (Aoyao) 批
Central Min Yong'an 信
Sanming (Shaxian) 信
Zhongshan Min Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) 信
Southern Pinghua Nanning (Tingzi) 信
Wu Shanghai 信
Shanghai (Chongming) 信
Suzhou 信
Danyang 信
Ningbo 信
Wenzhou 信
Jinhua 信
Xiang Changsha 信
Loudi 信
Shuangfeng 信
  • (message):
  • (information):
  • (evidence):

Compounds

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Descendants

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Sino-Xenic (信):
  • → Vietnamese: tín (信)

Others:

  • → Vietnamese: tin

Etymology 2

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simp. and trad.
 信

Via 假借 (jiǎjiè, “borrowing”).

Pronunciation

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Definitions

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信

  1. (literary) Obsolete form of 申 (shēn): to express; to state
  2. (literary) Obsolete form of 伸 (shēn): to extend
  3. Alternative form of 身, used in 信圭 (shēnguī).

References

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Japanese

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Kanji

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信

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji)

Readings

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Compounds

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Noun

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信(しん) • (shin) 

  1. trust, faith
    信(しん)を置(お)く、信(しん)を得(え)る
    shin o oku, shin o eru
    to put one's trust (in something), to gain someone's trust
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Korean

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Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Middle Korean readings, if any”)

Pronunciation

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  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key): [ɕʰi(ː)n]
  • Phonetic hangul: [신(ː)]
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

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Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

Wikisource

信 (eumhun 믿을 신 (mideul sin))

  1. hanja form? of 신 (“believe; trust”)

Compounds

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Vietnamese

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Han character

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信: Hán Nôm readings: tín, tin

  1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

References

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