Translation guide
The English word "confidence" covers several distinct concepts in Japanese. This guide breaks them down by meaning: self-assurance, trust in others, and certainty about facts.
Expressing confidence in oneself, one's skills, or one's actions.
The most common and direct translation for self-confidence. Often used in phrases like 自信がある (to have confidence) or 自信を持つ (to gain/have confidence).
彼は自分の能力に自信がある。
He has confidence in his own abilities.
もっと自信を持って話してください。
Please speak with more confidence.
Means 'full of confidence' or 'brimming with confidence'. Often used to describe someone's demeanor.
彼女は自信満々でプレゼンを始めた。
She started her presentation full of confidence.
Refers to having nerve, guts, or boldness. It's confidence in the face of fear or risk, not necessarily skill-based.
彼は人前で話す度胸がある。
He has the confidence (nerve) to speak in public.
While primarily meaning 'conviction' or 'certainty', it can sometimes overlap with a strong, unwavering self-belief. Less common for everyday self-confidence.
彼は成功を確信している。
He is confident of success. (He has a firm belief he will succeed.)
Expressing confidence in another person, an institution, or a thing's reliability.
The standard way to say you have confidence (trust) in someone or something. 信頼 means trust or reliance.
私は彼を完全に信頼している。
I have complete confidence in him.
この製品の品質を信頼しています。
I have confidence in the quality of this product.
Similar to 信頼, but often implies trust based on past performance or reputation. 信用できる means 'trustworthy' or 'reliable'.
Means 'can be entrusted (with something)'. It expresses confidence in someone's ability to handle a task.
彼ならこの仕事を任せられる。
I have confidence in him to handle this job. (I can entrust this job to him.)
Expressing confidence that something is true or will happen.
The primary word for conviction or firm belief in a fact. Used in phrases like 確信している (I am confident/certain).
彼が来ることは確信している。
I am confident that he will come.
その情報の正確さには確信が持てない。
I can't be confident about the accuracy of that information.
Literally 'there is no mistake'. A very common, slightly casual way to express certainty or confidence in a statement.
While primarily for self-confidence, it can also be used to express confidence in a prediction or knowledge, especially when the speaker has personal stake or expertise.
このデータなら間違いないと自信がある。
I'm confident that this data is correct.
自信 (じしん) is confidence in oneself or one's abilities. 確信 (かくしん) is confidence in a fact or outcome. You can have 自信 about your presentation skills, but 確信 that the meeting will start on time.
English often uses 'confidence' where Japanese would use a more specific term. For example, 'consumer confidence' is 消費者信頼感 (しょうひしゃしんらいかん), not 自信. Always consider the underlying meaning.
彼は研修の後、自信をつけた。
He gained confidence after the training.
彼女の判断を全面的に信頼している。
I have every confidence in her judgment.
それが真実だと確信を持って言える。
I can say with confidence that it's true.
彼の言うことは信用できない。
I have no confidence in what he says. (I can't trust his words.)
There's no doubt he'll win. (I'm confident he'll win.)