信仰（しんこう、shinkou）
- faith/belief

The Japanese word 信仰 信仰 primarily translates to "belief," "faith," or "religious faith." It represents a strong conviction in something, often a religious doctrine, set of principles, or a person. It encompasses trust, acceptance, and a deep-seated commitment. It can also refer to the act or state of believing. The meaning hinges on a steadfast adherence to a particular set of values, ideas, or a deity. The word is used to describe both the general concept of having faith and the specific religious beliefs held by an individual or group.

⚫︎キリスト教の信仰 Translation: Christian faith ⚫︎彼の信仰は揺るがない Translation: His faith is unwavering. ⚫︎信仰の自由 Translation: Freedom of belief (or faith).

This word is used in various contexts, including religious, philosophical, and even personal settings. You can use 信仰 when discussing someone's religious beliefs, their personal convictions, or their trust in something or someone. It’s suitable for formal and informal conversations. However, the tone might shift depending on the context. If you are discussing the freedom of 信仰, the tone will be more formal.

信仰 is written with the kanji 信仰. The reading (hiragana) is しんこう. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana (送りがな) doesn’t vary.

⚫︎ 信念 (しんねん) - Belief, conviction. ⚫︎ 確信 (かくしん) - Conviction, firm belief. ⚫︎ 信頼 (しんらい) - Trust, reliance.

⚫︎ 不信 (ふしん) - Distrust, disbelief. ⚫︎ 疑い (うたがい) - Doubt, suspicion.

彼女は強い信仰心を持っており、毎日教会に通っています。 ・Translation: She has a strong religious faith and goes to church every day. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the use of 信仰 in the context of religious belief and practice.

彼は科学を信仰し、証拠に基づいて判断します。 ・Translation: He believes in science and makes decisions based on evidence. ・Explanation: This example shows the use of 信仰 to describe a belief in something outside of traditional religious contexts, like the principles of science.

The word 信仰 is a compound word. It’s composed of two kanji: 信 (しん), meaning "believe," "faith," "trust," and 仰 (こう), which means "look up to," "respect," "revere." Thus, 信仰 literally means "to believe and revere," reflecting the core meaning of having faith.