诚信
chéngxìn
The English word loyalty is translated into Chinese as 诚信 (chéngxìn). Wiktionary also lists 忠信 (zhōngxìn) and 丹心 (dānxīn).
Meaning: faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 诚信 | chéngxìn |
| 忠信 | zhōngxìn |
| 丹心 | dānxīn |
The term 诚信 refers to faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation. The term 丹心 is a literary term used to describe a person's pure, undivided loyalty, literally meaning a 'red heart'.
What does it mean word for word?
The literary term 丹心 literally means a 'red heart'.
Which one should you use?
The form 忠信 (zhōngxìn) focuses more on the quality of being loyal (忠) and faithful (信) to a person or a cause.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese-speaking regions of Southern China, the term 忠誠 (zung1cing4) is used as the equivalent of 忠诚.
How do you pronounce it?
chéngxìn
Did you know?
- The term 诚信 (chéngxìn) is used in modern Chinese business to describe 'creditworthiness' or 'good faith', extending the idea of loyalty into a financial and commercial virtue.
- The character 信 in 忠信 originally depicted a person standing next to a word, implying that a person's actions must match their words to be considered faithful.
- In traditional Confucian thought, 忠 was not just about obedience to a ruler, but about being 'true' to one's own nature and conscience.
Examples in context
- 我衷心忠诚于我的国家。I am sincerely loyal to my country.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing a reliable business partner.
- 梓涵 Zihan这个合作伙伴的诚信非常好。zhège hézuò huǒbàn de chéngxìn fēicháng hǎo.This partner's loyalty and integrity are very good.
- 浩然 Haoran是的，他一直很可靠。shì de, tā yīzhí hěn kěkào.Yes, he has always been reliable.
- 梓涵 Zihan在这种关系中，诚信最重要。zài zhèzhǒng guānxì zhōng, chéngxìn zuì zhòngyào.In this kind of relationship, loyalty is most important.
- 浩然 Haoran我也这么认为，梓涵。wǒ yě zhème rènwéi, Zǐhán.I think so too, Zihan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loyalty” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
