How to say "belief" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 宗教しゅうきょうnounCovers 'belief' in the sense of a religion or religious affiliation, as in asking what someone's religion is. It really means religion itself, so it is not the word for a personal belief or conviction.
- 信仰しんこうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReligious faith or belief in a religion, viewed as an inner commitment or creed. Use this when 'belief' means faith in a deity or teaching, as in one's religious faith being deep.
- 信念しんねんnounA personal belief or conviction held firmly, whether moral, philosophical, or practical. This is the usual word for non-religious 'belief', as in believing strongly that effort will be rewarded.
- 確信かくしんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA firm conviction or confident belief that something is true or will happen. It emphasizes certainty about a specific matter rather than a general creed, as in being convinced of victory.
- 信心しんじんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbFaith, piety, or devotion in a religious sense, often with an earnest, devoted nuance. For 'belief' it is largely limited to religious faith, and 信仰 is the more neutral everyday choice.
Choose 宗教 for religion as an institution, 信仰 or 信心 for religious faith, 信念 for personal convictions, and 確信 for firm confidence that something is true.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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