About this Draft
This page is part of the early access version of The Kanji Speedrun. The essentials—kanji meanings and mnemonics—are already in place and usable, but nearly every part of the page is still being polished. Some entries may contain mistakes, but please rest assured we are working hard to make revisions.
We’re sharing these drafts now so you can keep learning while we polish the full experience. If you notice something off, please don’t hesitate to let me know—it’s a huge help in improving the course!
信
BELIEVE ・ MESSAGE
Mnemonic
On the left is man (亻). On the right is say (言). Imagine a man whose words you can truly trust. When someone’s speech is reliable, you BELIEVE them — and their words become a MESSAGE.
信 is built from 亻 (person) + 言 (speech). It’s about people and their words — when speech is trustworthy, belief follows.
Example Vocabulary
- 信じる（しんじる） – to believe
- 信号（しんごう） – traffic light, signal
- 信用（しんよう） – trust, confidence
- 通信（つうしん） – communication
- 信者（しんじゃ） – believer, follower
信 in daily life
信 is everywhere: 信号 keeps traffic flowing, 通信 powers messages, 信用 underpins relationships, and 信じる is what you do when you place belief in someone.
Whether it’s a MESSAGE you send or a truth you BELIEVE, 信 connects trust to words.
Example Sentences
- 子どもは友達を信じることを学びます。– Children learn to believe in their friends.
- 夜になると信号がきれいに光ります。– At night, the traffic lights shine beautifully.