When combined, 信任 (xìnrèn) literally means to “believe in someone's responsibility” or to have “faith in their ability to carry a burden.” This beautifully illustrates the concept of entrusting someone with something important, confident that they are reliable and capable.
In Chinese culture, 信任 (xìnrèn) is the bedrock of all meaningful relationships, from business to personal life. It's a cornerstone of the famous concept of 关系 (guānxi). While in the West, the mantra “trust, but verify” is common, in Chinese culture, the need to constantly “verify” someone you deeply 信任 (xìnrèn) can be perceived as an insult. Once established, 信任 (xìnrèn) implies a near-unconditional reliance on the other person's character and goodwill. It's earned through long-term observation of a person's actions, consistency, and loyalty—not given freely. Losing someone's 信任 (xìnrèn) can be catastrophic for a relationship, as it suggests a fundamental failure of character. Rebuilding it is a slow and arduous process. In business, establishing genuine 信任 (xìnrèn) is often more important than the fine print on a contract, as it ensures long-term cooperation and mutual support.
信任 (xìnrèn) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts.
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 信任 (xìnrèn) with 相信 (xiāngxìn).
Rule of Thumb: If you can replace “trust” with “believe that…” in English, use 相信 (xiāngxìn). If you mean “trust someone with something” or “have faith in their character,” use 信任 (xìnrèn).