Usage note
“信用”指别人相信你，因为你说话算话，做事可靠。
“xìn yòng” zhǐ bié rén xiāng xìn nǐ, yīn wèi nǐ shuō huà suàn huà, zuò shì kě kào.
"Credit" means others trust you because you keep your word and are reliable.
Context note
在班级里，小明很有信用，因为他总是按时还书。
Zài bān jí lǐ, Xiǎo Míng hěn yǒu xìn yòng, yīn wèi tā zǒng shì àn shí huán shū.
In class, Xiao Ming has good credit because he always returns books on time.
5 examples
我们要讲信用，不骗人。
wǒ men yào jiǎng xìn yòng， bú piàn rén。
We must have credit and not lie.
他有信用，所以大家喜欢和他玩。
tā yǒu xìn yòng， suǒ yǐ dà jiā xǐ huan hé tā wán。
He has credit, so everyone likes to play with him.
借东西要还，才能保持信用。
jiè dōng xī yào hái， cái néng bǎo chí xìn yòng。
Return borrowed things to keep credit.
信用很重要，像朋友之间的约定。
xìn yòng hěn zhòng yào， xiàng péng yǒu zhī jiān de yuē dìng。
Credit is important, like promises between friends.
老师表扬小华有信用。
lǎo shī biǎo yáng xiǎo huá yǒu xìn yòng。
The teacher praised Xiao Hua for having credit.
5 mini stories
小丽借了铅笔，第二天还了。她有信用。
xiǎo lì jiè le qiān bǐ， dì èr tiān hái le。 tā yǒu xìn yòng。
Xiao Li borrowed a pencil and returned it the next day. She has credit.
小刚答应帮忙打扫。他做到了，很有信用。
xiǎo gāng dā ying bāng máng dǎ sǎo。 tā zuò dào le， hěn yǒu xìn yòng。
Xiao Gang promised to help clean. He did it, so he has good credit.
小文总是按时交作业。老师说她有信用。
xiǎo wén zǒng shì àn shí jiāo zuò yè。 lǎo shī shuō tā yǒu xìn yòng。
Xiao Wen always hands in homework on time. The teacher says she has credit.
小强借了故事书，一周后还了。大家信任他的信用。
xiǎo qiáng jiè le gù shì shū， yì zhōu hòu hái le。 dà jiā xìn rèn tā de xìn yòng。
Xiao Qiang borrowed a storybook and returned it after a week. Everyone trusts his credit.
小美说会分享糖果。她真的分享了，很有信用。
xiǎo měi shuō huì fēn xiǎng táng guǒ。 tā zhēn de fēn xiǎng le， hěn yǒu xìn yòng。
Xiao Mei said she would share candy. She really shared, so she has good credit.
Mini dialogue
讲信用
A
答应别人的事要做到，这是讲信用。
Dāyìng biérén de shì yào zuò dào, zhè shì jiǎng xìnyòng.
You must do what you promise others, this is being trustworthy (keeping credit).
B
对，信用很重要，我们要守信用。
Duì, xìnyòng hěn zhòngyào, wǒmen yào shǒu xìnyòng.
Right, credit is very important, we must keep our word.
信用卡
A
妈妈用信用卡付钱。
Māma yòng xìnyòngkǎ fù qián.
Mom pays with a credit card.
B
信用卡很方便，但要记得按时还款。
Xìnyòngkǎ hěn fāngbiàn, dàn yào jìde ànshí huán kuǎn.
Credit cards are convenient, but you must remember to repay on time.
Related words and contrasts
similar
信任
xìn rèn
trust
信用 is about reliability in keeping promises, while 信任 is the feeling of trust.
related
信誉
xìn yù
reputation
信誉 refers to the good reputation one has due to being trustworthy.
related
诚信
chéng xìn
honesty and integrity
诚信 is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.