(しん)じる

しんじる
verb (ichidan)
to believe, to trust
1. to believe
To accept something as true or to have faith in something.
その(はなし)(しん)じられない。
I can't believe that story.
Using potential form
It's important to believe in yourself.
He didn't believe my story from the beginning. But when I showed him the evidence, he finally believed me.
(かみ)(しん)じています
Do you believe in God?
(うらな)(しん)じる(ひと)(おお)
Many people believe in fortune-telling.
2. to trust
To have confidence in someone or something's reliability.
(かれ)(しん)じる。
I believe him.
あなた(しん)じています
I believe in you.
彼女(かのじょ)(しん)じられる(ひと)
She is someone you can trust.
I trusted this company and invested.
I trust my friend's words.

TRANSITIVITY: 他動詞(たどうし) (transitive). No pair verb. Pattern: Xを(しん)じる (believe X).

ASPECT: ている indicates ongoing state. (しん)じている = 'believe' (continuous state of believing).

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • (ひと)(しん)じる (believe in a person)
  • (はなし)(しん)じる (believe a story)
  • 自分(じぶん)(しん)じる (believe in oneself)
  • (しん)じられない (I can't believe it)

Related:

  • 信頼(しんらい) (trust - noun)
  • 信用(しんよう) (credit/trust). (しん)じられない is very common in conversation.