Translation guide
To have faith, trust, or confidence in someone or something; to accept the existence or value of something.
Expressing that you trust someone's character, abilities, or reliability.
The most direct and common way to express trusting someone. Used for personal or professional trust.
私は彼を信頼しています。
I believe in him.
She believes in her team.
Can also mean 'believe in' a person, but often implies believing what they say or believing in their existence/qualities. Slightly less common for trust in abilities.
私は彼を信じています。
I believe in him. (I believe what he says / I have faith in him)
Expressing belief in the value, truth, or effectiveness of something abstract.
The standard way to say you believe in an idea, principle, or system.
私は民主主義を信じています。
I believe in democracy.
彼は愛の力を信じている。
He believes in the power of love.
Used when you trust the reliability of a system or method, like a process or technology.
私はこの治療法を信頼しています。
I believe in this treatment method.
Expressing that you think something exists, such as ghosts, gods, or aliens.
Explicitly states belief in the existence of something. Very natural and clear.
私は幽霊の存在を信じています。
I believe in ghosts.
A simpler way, but can be ambiguous without context. Often used in casual speech.
私は神を信じています。
I believe in God.
Expressing self-confidence or faith in one's own abilities.
The standard phrase for 'believe in oneself'. Used in motivational contexts.
自分を信じてください。
Believe in yourself.
彼は自分を信じることができなかった。
He couldn't believe in himself.
Literally 'have self-confidence'. A very common alternative, often more natural in some contexts.
もっと自信を持って。
Believe in yourself more. (Have more confidence.)
信じる (shinjiru) is broader: it can mean believe in existence, truth, or value. 信頼する (shinrai suru) specifically means trust in reliability, ability, or character. Use 信頼する for trusting people or systems to perform well.
彼の言葉を信じる。
I believe his words.
彼の能力を信頼する。
I trust his ability.
English uses 'believe in', but Japanese uses the particle を with the object of belief. Do not try to translate 'in' literally as に or の中で.