confidence

Compared meaning: belief in one's own ability (noun).

比较义项：信心，对自己能力的信任（名词）。

• confidence 本词

  The common, everyday word for believing in your own abilities; neutral in tone, fits any context, and is often paired with verbs like gain, lose, or build.

  这是最常用、最普通的说法，指相信自己的能力；语气中性，几乎任何场合都能用，常与 gain（获得）、lose（失去）、build（培养）等词搭配。

  Years of practice gave the young pianist real confidence on stage.

  多年的练习让这位年轻的钢琴家在舞台上真正有了信心。

• assurance

  A stronger, more formal word for the calm, visible self-certainty shown in how someone speaks or behaves; can sound slightly more polished or even self-satisfied.

  语气更强、更正式，指言谈举止中表现出的从容自信；语域更书面化，有时略带自满或过于笃定的意味。

  She walked into the interview with a natural assurance that put everyone at ease.

  她带着一种天生的从容自信走进面试现场，让大家都感到放松。

Confidence and assurance both mean belief in your own ability, but tone differs. Confidence is the common, neutral word. Assurance is stronger and more formal, describing the calm self-certainty shown in how someone speaks. Not compared: assurance meaning 'a promise', or confidence meaning 'secret'.

这两个词在“自信”这个意义上很接近，都可以译成“信心”，但语气和正式程度不同：confidence 是最常用、最中性的说法，各种场合都能用；assurance 语气更强、更正式，强调言谈举止中表现出的从容笃定，有时略带自满的意味。这里不比较 assurance 的“保证，承诺”义项（如保证包裹会按时送达），也不比较 confidence“秘密”的义项（如 in confidence，意为“秘密地”）。