1.
conviction, firm belief, confidence
A strong, unwavering belief that something is true or correct. Implies certainty based on evidence, experience, or deep personal feeling.
成功を確信している。
I am confident of success.
彼が犯人だという確信はない。
I have no conviction that he is the culprit.
何度も実験を繰り返して、ようやく自分の理論に確信を持てるようになった。
After repeating the experiment many times, I finally became confident in my theory.
USAGE:
Used either as a suru verb (確信する = to be convinced) or with 持つ (確信を持つ = to have conviction). The phrase 確信犯 originally means someone who commits a crime out of political or ideological conviction, but in modern colloquial use it often means someone who knowingly does something wrong.
KANJI:
確 means "certain" and 信 means "believe." The compound means "certain belief."
HOMOPHONE:
Not to be confused with 核心 (core, heart of a matter) or 革新 (reform, innovation).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 確信を持つ: to have conviction
- 確信に変わる: to turn into conviction
- 確信犯: deliberate offender