Chinese Language Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for students, teachers, and linguists wanting to discuss the finer points of the Chinese language. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this community
Both words generally mean sincerity or honesty, however their usage seems to be different, sometimes, but not always.
According to my understanding, you can say, for example:
他对我有诚意。
but can't say:
他对我有诚信。
However, you can say:
他有诚信。
Can anyone please explain the difference? Can someone please translate the above sentences accurately, and perhaps provide a few other useful examples? Thanks.
诚信: means honesty and credibility
诚意: means honesty only
You can't say:
他对我有诚信。
Because if somebody 有诚信, he/she will be always 有诚信, not only for you, but for everyone. So you just say 他有诚信 or 他没诚信.
You can say
他对我有诚意。
意 means mood here. One can be 有诚意 now, but wasn't other times, can be 有诚意 for you, but not for others.
诚信 is a trait, 诚意 is a mood.
You can say
他今天有诚意.
not
他今天有诚信
诚意: your willingness towards something,
eg: 我对这生意很有诚意；让我们看到你的诚意；
诚信: credits you got, (so people hold you accountable to do something.)
eg: 你很有诚信； 你的诚信很好。
In '诚意'(sincerity); '诚'= '诚实'(honest) ; '意'= '意图' (intention)
有诚意- having honest intention means you are sincere
~
In '诚信' (integrity); '诚'= '诚实'(honest); '信'= '信用'(credibility/ trust- worthiness)
有诚信- having honesty and credibility means you have integrity
If anyone said he would do something and finally he did it. 他很有诚信 If anyone said he would do something and problaly he will do it. 他很有诚意
