‘信用’ (xìn yòng) literally combines ‘信’ (xìn), meaning ‘trust’ or ‘belief’, and ‘用’ (yòng), meaning ‘use’ or ‘function’. Together, it refers to the social or institutional trustworthiness that enables reliable interactions — especially in financial, commercial, or personal contexts. It’s the foundation of lending, contracts, and reputation: when someone has high 信用, others believe they will honor commitments, repay loans, or act honestly.

This term is widely used in daily life — from bank credit scores (信用评分) and online shopping reviews (买家信用) to describing a person’s integrity (他很讲信用). Unlike the English word ‘credit’, which often refers narrowly to borrowing capacity, 信用 encompasses both objective reliability (e.g., credit history) and subjective moral credibility (e.g., keeping one’s word). It reflects Confucian values emphasizing trustworthiness as a core virtue in relationships and society.