信（しん）
JLPT N1 · noun
Pitch accent: atamadaka (head-high) — first mora high, then falls
Meaning: faithfulness / trust
Example sentences
- 信を大切にして約束を守る。 — I value trust and keep my promises.
- 人との信を築くのは時間がかかる。 — Building trust with others takes time.
Idioms & proverbs containing “信”
- 赤信号 (あかしんごう) — red light (traffic)
- 鰯の頭も信心から (いわしのあたまもしんじんから) — faith is mysterious; faith is weird; even a pilchard's head (can be revered) through faith
- 信は荘厳より起こる (しんはそうごんよりおこる) — function follows form; the outside shapes the inside; belief comes from solemnity (i.e. from seeing an ornate temple)
- 赤信号皆で渡れば怖くない (あかしんごうみんなでわたればこわくない) — if everyone crosses against the red light together, there's nothing to be afraid of; there's no reason to feel guilty about doing something bad if everyone does it
- 信心過ぎて極楽を通り越す (しんじんすぎてごくらくをとおりこす) — faith is best in moderation; worship too hard and you will pass right through paradise
- 半信半疑 (はんしんはんぎ) — half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
Related words
See it used in real works
- Example sentences from Japanese novels & web fiction (Massif)
- Hear “信” pronounced in real videos (YouGlish)