Meaning
自信 means confidence or self-assurance in one's own abilities, judgment, or worth. It describes both the quality of being confident (as an adjective) and the concept of confidence itself (as a noun). The word emphasizes trust and belief in oneself.
Usage
Commonly used to describe someone's personality trait or mental state. Can appear as '很自信' (very confident) or '缺乏自信' (lacking confidence). Often used in contexts of personal development, psychology, education, and workplace discussions. Native speakers frequently use it when encouraging others or discussing self-improvement.
Examples
- 01她说话的时候很自信，给人留下了深刻的印象。, .She spoke very confidently and left a deep impression on people.
- 02要想成功，首先要对自己有自信。, .To succeed, you must first have confidence in yourself.
Characters
Common collocations
- 充满自信full of confidence
- 缺乏自信lack confidence
- 建立自信build confidence
- 自信心self-confidence (noun form)
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 自 (self) and 信 (trust/belief), literally meaning 'trust in oneself' or 'self-trust.' This structure is typical of Chinese psychological terms where 自 precedes a verb to create reflexive meanings.