confidence
Definitions
Belief in one's own abilities or worth; self-assurance
自信，对自己能力或价值的信念
Firm trust placed in someone or something
信任，信赖
A state of trust in which a secret is shared (esp. 'in confidence')
（尤指 in confidence）私下托付秘密的信任状态
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedcon- (thoroughly) + fid (trust) + -ence (state) = the state of trusting completely. That trust can point at yourself (self-confidence) or at someone else (trusting them). The same noun even covers a shared secret — telling someone something 'in confidence' means handing them your trust.
Root fid still carries 16 more wordsWhy It Means This
One word covers trust in yourself and trust in others because in Latin fidēs simply meant 'trust' without specifying a direction. English kept the word general: build confidence (in yourself), have confidence in a leader (in others), and 'in confidence' (trust to keep a secret) are all the same trust pointed different ways.
Common Collocations
- 1.build confidence建立信心
- 2.lack of confidence缺乏信心
- 3.in confidence私下地，秘密地
- 4.have confidence in信赖
- 5.confidence boost信心提升
Example Sentences
- 1.
Years of practice gave her the confidence to speak in public.
- 2.
The team has full confidence in their new coach.
- 3.
He told me, in confidence, that he was planning to quit.
Synonym Comparison
- confidence — firm trust, in yourself or others; broadest
- self-assurance — confidence specifically in oneself, often poised
- trust — reliance on another's reliability, not used for self-belief
- faith — trust without proof, often deeper or emotional
- assurance — confident certainty, sometimes about a guaranteed outcome