Meaning
信义 combines the concepts of trust (信) and righteousness (义) to express the moral principle of acting with honor, keeping one's word, and maintaining loyalty to principles and people. It represents a core Confucian virtue emphasizing the importance of being trustworthy and morally upright in one's dealings with others.
Usage
信义 is a somewhat formal or literary term often used in moral, philosophical, or business contexts to describe someone's character or principles. It appears frequently in written Chinese and formal speech when discussing ethics, reputation, or honorable conduct. Native speakers might say someone '讲信义' (upholds good faith) or '有信义' (possesses integrity) as high praise.
Examples
- 01他是一个讲信义的商人，从不欺骗顾客。, .He is a businessman of integrity who never deceives customers.
- 02信义是中国传统文化中最重要的美德之一。.Good faith is one of the most important virtues in traditional Chinese culture.
Characters
Common collocations
- 讲信义to uphold good faith
- 有信义to have integrity
- 信义原则principle of good faith
- 重信义to value honor and trustworthiness
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters have ancient origins in Confucian philosophy. 信 originally depicted a person standing by their word, while 义 represented acting according to proper principles. Together they form a classical compound emphasizing moral character.