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信

Character guide

Chinese Tattoo 信: Meaning, Strokes & Design

信 is a compact character for trust, belief and confidence. It also means “letter” in some contexts, so the complete phrase matters.

Pinyin xìnStrokes 9Meaning trust, believe, confidence, letterTraditional 信

What does 信 mean?

信 (xìn) means trust, believe or confidence, and can also mean a letter or message. Common words include 信任 (trust), 信心 (confidence) and 相信 (to believe). The single character is broad; the phrase determines whether it is about faith, confidence or communication.

Is 信 suitable for a tattoo?

Yes. With 9 strokes, it has a practical scale and remains readable in regular script. It is a good choice for someone who wants a direct character for trust or confidence without using a religious claim.

Design notes

ScriptRegular script keeps the 人 radical and the right-side structure balanced.
ScaleIt works at moderate sizes without becoming crowded.
MeaningTrust is a relational value, not a guarantee that others will be trustworthy.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming 信 always means religious faith.
  • Using it when the intended phrase is 信任 or 信心.
  • Choosing a stylized form that makes the 人 radical unclear.

Related characters

Bamboo 竹Dragon 龙Courage 勇Harmony 和Love 爱Wisdom 智Virtue 德Blessing 福Peace 安Goodness 善The Way 道Benevolence 仁Home 家Stillness 静Joy 喜How we verify

信 versus 相信, 信任 and 信心

信 has a broad meaning: trust, belief, confidence, or a letter or message. 相信 means to believe, 信任 means to trust someone and 信心 means confidence. The single character is much broader than any one of these compounds.

Why context matters

In a name or design, 信 may suggest reliability, integrity or confidence. It does not automatically mean religious faith, and it does not guarantee that another person will be trustworthy. State the intended meaning before the design is made permanent or used commercially.

Design review

信 has 9 strokes and works well in regular script. Keep the 人 radical distinct from the right side and avoid a very thin or highly cursive form that makes the structure ambiguous.