At the A1 level, think of **信用 (しんよう)** as a way to say 'trust' in a very simple sense. It is mostly used as a noun or with 'suru' (to do). You might hear it when people talk about whether someone is 'good' or 'bad' to rely on. For example, 'I trust my friend' is 'Tomodachi o shinyou shimasu.' At this stage, don't worry too much about the deep business meanings. Just remember that it means you believe someone is reliable. If you say 'Shinyou dekimasu,' you are saying 'I can trust this.' If you say 'Shinyou dekimasen,' you are saying 'I cannot trust this.' It is a useful word for expressing your feelings about someone's honesty in a simple way. You might see it on signs for banks, but for now, just focus on the basic idea of trusting a person's words.
At the A2 level, you start to see **信用** in more practical, everyday situations. You might use it when talking about shopping or borrowing things. For instance, if you want to borrow a book from a library or a tool from a neighbor, your '信用' is what allows them to say yes. You will learn the phrase '信用がある' (to have trust/credit) and '信用がない' (to not have trust/credit). You might also encounter it in simple business contexts, like trusting a shop or a brand. A common sentence might be 'Kono mise wa shinyou dekimasu' (This shop is reliable). You are moving beyond just 'liking' someone to 'relying' on them because they always do what they say they will do. It's about being a 'man of your word.'
At the B1 level, you should distinguish **信用** from other words like 'shinjiru' (to believe). You begin to use it in professional contexts. You'll learn that 信用 is often earned through 'jisseki' (achievements). In a job interview or a workplace, you might talk about 'building trust' (信用を築く - shinyou o kizuku). You also start to see the financial side of the word. You might hear about 'credit' in terms of credit cards or bank loans. You should be able to explain *why* you trust someone using 信用—for example, 'He always meets deadlines, so he has my 信用.' You are also introduced to the idea that 信用 can be 'lost' (失う - ushinau), which is a serious matter in Japanese culture. You can now use it to describe the reputation of a company or a product, not just a person.
At the B2 level, you understand that **信用** is a form of social and economic capital. You can use it in complex discussions about business ethics, financial markets, and social systems. You understand collocations like '信用に関わる' (to affect one's credit/reputation) and '信用を勝ち取る' (to win over someone's trust). You can participate in debates about whether a company's actions have damaged its 信用 and what steps they should take to recover it. You also start to see the word in compound nouns like '信用取引' (margin trading) or '信用調査' (credit investigation). Your understanding of the nuance between 信用 (based on past performance) and 信頼 (based on future potential) becomes clear, and you can choose the right word depending on whether you are talking about a contract or a friendship.
At the C1 level, you master the subtle sociolinguistic weight of **信用**. You can use the word to discuss abstract concepts like 'social trust' and its role in the stability of a nation's economy. You are familiar with formal expressions like '信用失墜' (loss of prestige/credit) and '信用を担保にする' (to use credit as collateral). You can read and analyze business editorials that discuss the '信用' of the Japanese yen or the global banking system. You understand how 信用 functions within the 'Uchi-Soto' (inside-outside) social framework—how trust is established differently within a company versus between different companies. You can use the word in high-level negotiations to emphasize the long-term value of a relationship over short-term gains.
At the C2 level, your understanding of **信用** is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can navigate the legal, philosophical, and historical nuances of the term. You can discuss the history of 'Shinyou Kinko' (credit unions) in post-war Japan and their role in supporting small businesses. You can use the term in academic writing about sociology or economics, perhaps discussing 'System Trust' (システムへの信用). You are sensitive to the rhetorical use of 信用 in political speeches, where it might be used to invoke a sense of national duty or stability. You can effortlessly switch between the technical financial meaning and the deep social meaning, understanding that in Japan, these two are often inextricably linked. You can also appreciate literary uses where the loss of 信用 is treated as a tragic loss of identity.

信用 در ۳۰ ثانیه

  • Shinyou is trust based on past evidence and performance.
  • It is the standard word for 'credit' in financial contexts.
  • Losing shinyou is considered a major social and professional failure.
  • It differs from 'shinrai' (emotional trust) by being more objective.

The Japanese term 信用 (しんよう - shinyou) is a cornerstone of Japanese social and economic interaction. At its core, it represents the objective trust or credit one has earned through past actions, performance, or financial stability. Unlike emotional trust, which might be given freely, 信用 is something that is meticulously built over time and can be quantified or evaluated based on evidence.

Etymological Breakdown
The first kanji, 信 (shin), means 'faith,' 'truth,' or 'fidelity.' It is composed of the radical for 'person' (人) and 'word' (言), suggesting that trust is found in a person's words. The second kanji, 用 (you), means 'use,' 'service,' or 'business.' Together, they imply a 'trust that can be used' or 'functional reliance.'
The Social Ledger
In Japanese culture, 信用 acts as a social currency. When you fulfill a promise, pay back a loan, or deliver high-quality work on time, your '信用 balance' increases. This balance determines your eligibility for bank loans, business partnerships, and even social acceptance in tight-knit communities.

彼は長年の誠実な仕事で、地域の信用を勝ち得た。

— Through years of sincere work, he won the trust of the local community.

In a financial context, 信用 is the direct translation for 'credit.' A 'credit card' is a クレジットカード, but the concept of 'buying on credit' is 信用買い (shinyou-gai). This dual nature—social reputation and financial credit—makes it one of the most powerful nouns in the Japanese language. When a company goes bankrupt, it is often said they lost their 信用 before they lost their money.

一度信用を失うと、それを取り戻すのは難しい。

— Once you lose your credit/trust, it is difficult to regain it.
Usage in Business
Business transactions in Japan often prioritize 信用 over the immediate terms of a contract. A company with high 信用 might receive better payment terms or be introduced to exclusive networks. This is why 'business cards' (meishi) are so important; they are the first step in establishing a verifiable identity that can be researched for 信用.

Using 信用 (しんよう) correctly requires understanding its grammatical flexibility. It functions primarily as a noun, but it frequently combines with verbs to describe the act of trusting, gaining trust, or losing it. The most common verb pairing is 信用する (shinyou suru), meaning 'to trust' or 'to place confidence in.'

Common Verb Collocations
  • 信用を得る (shinyou o eru): To gain trust/credit. Used when your actions result in a positive reputation.
  • 信用を失う (shinyou o ushinau): To lose trust/credit. A common phrase for scandals or broken promises.
  • 信用に関わる (shinyou ni kakawaru): To affect one's reputation. 'This mistake affects our company's credit.'
  • 信用を築く (shinyou o kizuku): To build trust over a long period.

その銀行は、顧客からの信用が厚い。

— That bank enjoys great trust from its customers.

When describing someone who is trustworthy, you can use the adjective-like phrase 信用の置ける (shinyou no okeru), which literally means 'someone on whom trust can be placed.' Conversely, 信用できない (shinyou dekinai) is the standard way to say someone is 'unreliable' or 'untrustworthy.'

In financial contexts, 信用 is used as a prefix for many technical terms. 信用取引 (shinyou torihiki) refers to margin trading in the stock market, where you trade using credit provided by a broker. 信用調査 (shinyou chousa) is a credit check or background investigation into a person's or company's financial health.

新しいアパートを借りるには、信用調査が必要です。

— A credit check is necessary to rent a new apartment.

Finally, consider the level of formality. While 信用 is common in daily speech, in very formal business documents, you might see 信任 (shinnin), which refers to official confidence or a mandate (like a vote of confidence in a politician).

You will encounter 信用 in a variety of settings, ranging from the highly formal to the deeply personal. Understanding these contexts helps in grasping the weight the word carries in Japanese society.

1. The Business World
This is the most frequent habitat for the word. Whether it's a performance review, a contract negotiation, or a corporate apology, 信用 is the ultimate metric. You'll hear phrases like 'Our company's 信用 is at stake' (わが社の信用に関わる) during a crisis.
2. Financial Institutions
At a bank or when applying for a credit card, 信用 is used in its technical sense. 信用金庫 (shinyou kinko) is a common type of cooperative bank in Japan, often called 'Shinkin' for short. Here, the word literally means 'credit.'

「お客様の信用状態を確認させていただきます。」

— "We will confirm your credit status." (Commonly heard at banks or car dealerships)

In daily life, 信用 appears in conversations about interpersonal reliability. If a friend constantly cancels plans at the last minute, someone might say, 'I can't 信用 him anymore' (もう彼を信用できない). It's less about a broken heart and more about a broken promise.

You will also see it in advertisements. Companies often use slogans like 「信用と実績」 (Shinyou to Jisseki), meaning 'Trust and a Proven Track Record.' This is a standard way to signal to customers that the business is stable and reliable.

このサイトの情報は信用に値する。

— The information on this site is worthy of trust (reliable).

Because 'trust' is a broad concept in English, learners often misapply 信用 in contexts where other Japanese words are more appropriate. Avoiding these pitfalls will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

1. Confusing 信用 (Shinyou) with 信頼 (Shinrai)
This is the most common error.
信用: Based on the past. It's like a credit score. You trust someone because they have proven themselves.
信頼: Based on the future and emotional bonds. You trust someone's character or potential even without proof. You trust (shinrai) your spouse; you trust (shinyou) your accountant.
2. Using it for Religious Belief
If you say 'I believe in God' using 信用 (神を信用する), it sounds like you are checking God's credit score or past performance as a business partner. Use 信仰 (shinkou) for religious faith or 信じる (shinjiru) for general belief.

Another mistake is using 信用 when you mean 'confidence' in oneself. For 'self-confidence,' the correct word is 自信 (jishin). Saying 'I have 信用 in myself' (自分に信用がある) sounds like you would lend yourself money, which is odd in most contexts.

「私の言葉を信用してください!」

— "Please trust my word/reliability!" (Correct if asking for professional trust, but '信じて' is more common for 'believe me' in personal pleas).

Lastly, be careful with the particle. Learners sometimes use に (ni) instead of を (o) with 信用する. While [Person] に 信頼を置く is correct, [Person] を 信用する is the standard transitive construction.

To master 信用, you must understand the constellation of related words that occupy the 'trust' and 'belief' semantic space in Japanese.

1. 信頼 (しんらい - Shinrai)
The closest relative. It implies a deeper, often emotional reliance. While 信用 is 'credit,' 信頼 is 'trust.' In a healthy relationship, 信用 (past proof) grows into 信頼 (future expectation).
2. 信任 (しんにん - Shinnin)
Used for official appointments or formal confidence. For example, an ambassador presents their 'credentials' (信任状 - shinninjou). It is 'trust' in a formal, systemic capacity.
3. 確信 (かくしん - Kakushin)
This means 'conviction' or 'certainty.' It is internal. You have 確信 that you will win. It doesn't require a social relationship like 信用 does.

彼は信頼できるパートナーだが、今のプロジェクトにはまだ信用(実績)が足りない。

— He is a trustworthy partner (character), but he lacks the credit (track record) for this project yet.

Another word often confused is 評判 (hyouban), which means 'reputation' or 'rumor.' While 信用 is your actual creditworthiness, 評判 is what people are currently saying about you. You can have a good 評判 but low 信用 if you haven't actually proven yourself yet.

چقدر رسمی است؟

سطح دشواری

گرامر لازم

Potential form (できる) with Shinyou

Passive form (される) with Shinyou

Compound nouns with Shinyou-

Noun + に基づいて (Based on...)

Noun + に関わる (Affecting...)

مثال‌ها بر اساس سطح

1

私は彼を信用します。

I trust him.

Subject + Object + を + 信用します

2

この人は信用できますか?

Is this person trustworthy?

Potential form: 信用できる

3

うそをつく人は信用できません。

I cannot trust people who tell lies.

Negative potential: 信用できない

4

田中さんは信用があります。

Mr. Tanaka is trusted (has credit).

信用 + が + ある

5

友達を信用するのは大切です。

It is important to trust your friends.

Verb nominalization: 信用するのは

6

あの店は信用できます。

That shop is reliable.

Noun + は + 信用できる

7

信用を大切にしてください。

Please value trust.

Object + を + 大切にする

8

彼は信用できる人です。

He is a trustworthy person.

信用できる + Noun

1

彼は約束を守るので、信用されています。

He is trusted because he keeps his promises.

Passive form: 信用されている

2

信用を失うのは簡単ですが、得るのは難しいです。

Losing trust is easy, but gaining it is hard.

Contrastive usage: 失う vs 得る

3

銀行から信用を得るために、仕事を頑張ります。

I will work hard to gain credit from the bank.

Purpose: 〜ために

4

このニュースは信用してもいいですか?

Is it okay to trust this news?

Permission: 〜てもいいですか

5

彼はクラスで一番信用がある学生です。

He is the most trusted student in the class.

Superlative: 一番〜

6

信用できないサイトで買い物をしないでください。

Please don't shop on untrustworthy websites.

Negative request: 〜ないでください

7

あなたの信用を裏切りたくありません。

I don't want to betray your trust.

Desire: 〜たい (negative: 〜たくない)

8

信用があるから、お金を貸してくれました。

Because I have credit, they lent me money.

Reason: 〜から

1

会社の信用を守るために、誠実に対応します。

In order to protect the company's reputation, we will respond sincerely.

Noun + の + 信用

2

一度失った信用を取り戻すには、長い時間がかかります。

It takes a long time to regain trust once it has been lost.

Conditional: 〜には (in order to)

3

彼は口が軽いので、あまり信用を置けません。

Since he has a big mouth (can't keep secrets), I can't place much trust in him.

Phrase: 信用を置く

4

このブランドは品質が高いことで信用を築いてきました。

This brand has built trust through its high quality.

Aspect: 〜てきた (has been doing)

5

信用調査の結果、彼との取引を中止することにした。

As a result of the credit check, we decided to cancel the transaction with him.

Compound noun: 信用調査

6

ネット上の情報は、常に信用できるとは限りません。

Information on the internet is not always reliable.

Partial negation: 〜とは限りません

7

彼は誠実な人柄で、周囲の信用を勝ち得た。

With his sincere personality, he won the trust of those around him.

Verb: 勝ち得る (to win/attain)

8

信用貸しは、相手を信じてお金を貸すことです。

Unsecured lending is lending money based on trusting the other party.

Noun: 信用貸し (credit lending)

1

その不祥事は、企業の信用を根本から揺るがした。

That scandal shook the company's credit to its very foundations.

Idiomatic: 根本から揺るがす

2

信用取引には高いリスクが伴うことを忘れてはいけない。

One must not forget that margin trading involves high risks.

Noun: 信用取引 (margin trading)

3

彼は、自分の信用に関わる問題だと感じて、必死に謝罪した。

Feeling that it was a matter affecting his reputation, he apologized desperately.

Phrase: 〜に関わる

4

政府の経済政策が、市場の信用を得られるかどうかが焦点だ。

The focus is whether the government's economic policy can gain the market's confidence.

Whether or not: 〜かどうか

5

信用状(L/C)は、国際貿易において重要な役割を果たす。

A Letter of Credit (L/C) plays an important role in international trade.

Technical term: 信用状

6

彼は過去の失敗のせいで、なかなか信用を回復できずにいる。

Because of past failures, he is struggling to recover his credit.

State: 〜ずにいる (continuing not to)

7

信用格付け会社が、その国の国債を引き下げた。

A credit rating agency downgraded that country's government bonds.

Compound: 信用格付け

8

この契約は、お互いの信用に基づいて成立しています。

This contract is established based on mutual trust.

Based on: 〜に基づいて

1

社会的信用の失墜は、金銭的な損失よりもはるかに痛手となる。

The loss of social credit is a far greater blow than financial loss.

Formal noun: 信用失墜

2

現代社会において、データは信用の新しい形となりつつある。

In modern society, data is becoming a new form of trust.

Becoming: 〜つつある

3

彼は長年の功績により、業界内で絶大な信用を誇っている。

Due to his years of achievements, he boasts immense credit within the industry.

Boast/Possess: 〜を誇る

4

信用不安が広がると、銀行の取り付け騒ぎが起こる可能性がある。

When credit anxiety spreads, there is a possibility of a bank run.

Compound: 信用不安 (credit anxiety)

5

その政治家は、相次ぐ失言で国民の信用を完全に使い果たした。

The politician completely exhausted the public's trust with a series of gaffes.

Metaphorical: 使い果たす (to use up)

6

暗号資産の価値は、中央機関ではなく、アルゴリズムへの信用に依存している。

The value of crypto assets depends on trust in algorithms rather than central institutions.

Depend on: 〜に依存している

7

信用を担保に融資を受ける仕組みが、経済を活性化させる。

The mechanism of receiving loans with credit as collateral revitalizes the economy.

Collateral: 担保 (tanpo)

8

彼の行動は、プロフェッショナルとしての信用を著しく損なうものだった。

His actions significantly damaged his credit as a professional.

Adverb: 著しく (significantly)

1

信用秩序の維持は、中央銀行に課せられた至上命題である。

Maintaining the credit order is the supreme mission imposed on the central bank.

Formal: 至上命題 (supreme mission)

2

貨幣経済の本質は、実体的な価値ではなく、共同体内の信用にある。

The essence of a monetary economy lies not in physical value, but in trust within the community.

Essence: 本質 (honshitsu)

3

その学説は、実証的なデータに欠けるため、学術的な信用を得るに至っていない。

Because the theory lacks empirical data, it has not yet reached the point of gaining academic credit.

Reach a point: 〜に至る

4

信用創造のプロセスを理解することは、マクロ経済学の根幹をなす。

Understanding the process of credit creation forms the basis of macroeconomics.

Credit Creation: 信用創造

5

彼は、自己の信念と社会的信用の狭間で、苦渋の決断を迫られた。

He was forced to make a bitter decision between his own beliefs and his social standing/credit.

Between: 〜の狭間で

6

組織における信用は、透明性の高い情報開示によってのみ担保される。

Trust in an organization is guaranteed only through highly transparent information disclosure.

Only through: 〜によってのみ

7

信用収縮(クレジット・クランチ)が実体経済に及ぼす影響は計り知れない。

The impact of a credit crunch on the real economy is immeasurable.

Credit Crunch: 信用収縮

8

外交における信用は、条約の遵守という積み重ねの上に築かれる。

Credit in diplomacy is built upon the accumulation of treaty compliance.

Accumulation: 積み重ね

مترادف‌ها

信頼 信任 信認 確信 期待

متضادها

ترکیب‌های رایج

信用を得る (Gain trust)
信用を失う (Lose trust)
信用を築く (Build trust)
信用に関わる (Affect credit)
信用調査 (Credit check)
信用取引 (Margin trading)
信用状 (Letter of credit)
信用第一 (Trust first)
信用格付け (Credit rating)
信用不安 (Credit anxiety)

اغلب اشتباه گرفته می‌شود با

信用 vs 信頼 (Shinrai) - Emotional trust

信用 vs 信仰 (Shinkou) - Religious faith

信用 vs 自信 (Jishin) - Self-confidence

به‌راحتی اشتباه گرفته می‌شود

信用 vs

信用 vs

信用 vs

信用 vs

信用 vs

الگوهای جمله‌سازی

نحوه استفاده

social

Shinyou is a public-facing reputation.

financial

Always use Shinyou for 'credit' in finance.

nuance diff

Shinyou is objective/past-based; Shinrai is subjective/future-based.

اشتباهات رایج

نکات

Trust in Business

In Japan, a company's 信用 is its most valuable asset. It takes years to build and seconds to lose.

Potential Form

Use 信用できる (can trust) more often than 信用する (to trust) when describing someone's character.

Credit Score

Japan doesn't have a single 'FICO score' like the US, but 信用情報 (credit information) is shared between banks.

Shinyou vs Shinjiru

Shinjiru is the verb 'to believe.' Shinyou is the noun/verb for 'to trust/credit.' Use shinjiru for facts, shinyou for people.

Keeping Promises

The fastest way to build 信用 in Japan is to never be late and always do what you promised.

Corporate Apologies

When a CEO bows in Japan, they are trying to save the company's 信用.

Unsecured Loans

信用貸し (shinyou-gai) is lending based solely on the person's reputation, without collateral.

Kanji Practice

The kanji 信 is 'person' + 'word'. A person is only as good as their word.

News Keywords

When you hear 'Shinyou' on the news, it's usually about a bank, a scandal, or the economy.

Shiny New You

Think: If you have a 'Shiny New' reputation, you have high 'Shinyou'!

حفظ کنید

ریشه کلمه

Sino-Japanese (Kango)

بافت فرهنگی

Credit unions in Japan are literally called 'Shinyou Kinko'.

Public apologies (shajai) are performed primarily to restore damaged shinyou.

Exchanging business cards (meishi) is the first step in establishing shinyou.

تمرین در زندگی واقعی

موقعیت‌های واقعی

شروع‌کننده‌های مکالمه

"どうすれば人の信用を得られると思いますか? (How do you think one can gain people's trust?)"

"信用できないニュースを見たことがありますか? (Have you ever seen news that you couldn't trust?)"

"仕事で一番大切なのは信用だと思いますか? (Do you think trust is the most important thing in work?)"

"あなたは人をすぐに信用するタイプですか? (Are you the type who trusts people quickly?)"

"信用を失った経験はありますか? (Have you ever had an experience where you lost trust?)"

موضوعات نگارش

今日、誰かの信用を得るために何をしたか書いてください。 (Write about what you did today to gain someone's trust.)

「信用」と「信頼」の違いについて、自分の考えをまとめましょう。 (Summarize your thoughts on the difference between 'shinyou' and 'shinrai'.)

信用できるブランドとその理由について。 (About a brand you trust and the reason why.)

もし信用を失ったら、どうやって取り戻しますか? (If you lost trust, how would you regain it?)

社会における信用の役割について。 (About the role of trust in society.)

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

You can, but it sounds a bit cold or business-like. For family, 信頼 (shinrai) is much more common because it implies an emotional bond. If you use 信用, it sounds like you are evaluating their reliability as if they were a contractor.

信用 (shinyou) is based on past performance and is often used in business or finance. 信頼 (shinrai) is based on a person's character and future potential, often used in personal relationships. Think of shinyou as 'credit' and shinrai as 'trust'.

Yes, 信用する (shinyou suru) is very common and means 'to trust' or 'to place confidence in' someone or something.

While 'credit card' is クレジットカード, the 'credit' part of the system is referred to as 信用. A credit check is 信用調査.

It means 'Trust First' or 'Credit is our top priority.' You often see this on the signs of old Japanese shops or companies.

It's better to use 信憑性 (shinpyousei) for the credibility of information, but you can say 'Kono nyuusu wa shinyou dekinai' (I can't trust this news).

It is a 'Shinkin Bank' or a credit union. It's a community-based financial institution in Japan.

It is a standard word used in both daily life and business. It is not overly formal, but it is a serious word.

It is 'margin trading' in the stock market, where you buy stocks using credit provided by the brokerage.

You can say '彼への信用を失った' (Kare he no shinyou o ushinatta).

خودت رو بسنج 180 سوال

/ 180 درست

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