信

1. Trust and Integrity:

• Noun: Trustworthiness, integrity, reliability (specifically the alignment of speech with action).
• Verb: To trust or believe; to be true to one's word.
• Adjective: Reliable, truthful, accurate.

2. Communication: News, tidings, or a physical letter.

Functions as a noun (trust, integrity, message), verb (to trust, believe), and adjective (reliable, accurate).

When distinguishing between terms for "truth" or "sincerity":

• 信: External reliability; the consistency of speech as received by others.
• 誠: Internal sincerity; the state of heart or intent.
• 真: Ontological truth; the actual nature of a thing (reality vs. illusion).

The sense of "communication" evolved from "reliable word" → "news/tidings" → "physical letter." In early texts, the term typically refers to a message or tidings; the sense of a physical object (stationery) is a later development.

If ambiguity exists between "trust" and "message," look for contextual clues: the presence of an agent (e.g., a messenger) strongly signals the communicative sense, while a promise or moral obligation suggests integrity. Additionally, distinguish between trusting in a person's character (reliability) versus believing a specific claim (truth-value).