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March 24, 2026
自信zìxìn(zi4xin4)
自信 (zìxìn) means to have confidence in oneself or self-confidence. It is often used in contexts where individuals express belief in their abilities or decisions, playing a crucial role in personal development and success. This word embodies the idea of trusting one's judgment and capabilities.
Strokes15Frequency#2030DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
Confidence is often emphasized in Chinese culture as a trait that can lead to success in both personal and professional realms. In educational settings, students are encouraged to develop 自信 to help them perform better and participate more actively.
Memory Tip
Think of 自 (zì) as 'self' and 信 (xìn) as 'trust' or 'believe'. Imagine a character looking in a mirror, confidently saying, 'I trust myself!' This visual reinforces both the meaning and pronunciation of 自信.
Meanings of 自信
zìxìn(zi4xin4)
1to have confidence in oneself
2self-confidence
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About 自信
自信Simplified
15Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2030Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 自信
Podcast: 自信
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AI Study Notes for 自信
Quick Contrast
自信 (zìxìn) vs 自负 (zìfù) — choose 自信 for a positive sense of self-confidence, while 自负 implies arrogance or overconfidence.
Usage Notes
Be mindful to use 自信 in contexts relating to personal belief rather than arrogance. Common collocations include 自信心 (zìxìn xīn - self-confidence) and 增强自信 (zēngqiáng zìxìn - to enhance self-confidence). Also, remember that it's important to use the correct tones; mispronouncing can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 自信 connects to other vocabulary related to personal qualities and feelings. Focus on using it in sentences about personal experiences or aspirations to reinforce understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 自信 with 自负 (zìfù), which means arrogance. For example, saying '他很自负' (Tā hěn zìfù) incorrectly implies he is confident in a negative way. The correct usage for a positive context would be '他很自信' (Tā hěn zìxìn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 自信
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How to say to have confidence in oneself in Chinese
“to have confidence in oneself” in Chinese is自信zìxìn
自信 (zìxìn) means to have confidence in oneself or self-confidence. It is often used in contexts where individuals express belief in their abilities or decisions, playing a crucial role in personal development and success. This word embodies the idea of trusting one's judgment and capabilities.
When to use 自信
Be mindful to use 自信 in contexts relating to personal belief rather than arrogance. Common collocations include 自信心 (zìxìn xīn - self-confidence) and 增强自信 (zēngqiáng zìxìn - to enhance self-confidence). Also, remember that it's important to use the correct tones; mispronouncing can change the meaning.
自信 or something close to it
自信 (zìxìn) vs 自负 (zìfù) — choose 自信 for a positive sense of self-confidence, while 自负 implies arrogance or overconfidence.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 自信 with 自负 (zìfù), which means arrogance. For example, saying '他很自负' (Tā hěn zìfù) incorrectly implies he is confident in a negative way. The correct usage for a positive context would be '他很自信' (Tā hěn zìxìn).
Write 自信
自
信
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Grammar Patterns of 自信
自信 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
