self-confidence
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self-confidence
Belief in one's own abilities, strengths, and judgments; trust in oneself.
Durch die bestandene Prüfung hat sie viel Selbstvertrauen gewonnen.
By passing the exam, she gained a lot of self-confidence.
The word is a clear compound of 'Selbst' (self) and 'Vertrauen' (trust/confidence). So it literally means having trust in yourself.
Ein gesundes Selbstvertrauen ist wichtig für den Erfolg im Beruf.
Healthy self-confidence is important for success at work.
'Selbstvertrauen' (self-confidence) is often combined with certain verbs that describe a change. Typical ones are: to have, gain, strengthen, build up, or lose self-confidence.
Durch das positive Feedback konnte er sein Selbstvertrauen wieder aufbauen.
Thanks to the positive feedback, he was able to build up his self-confidence again.
To describe the degree of self-confidence, the adjectives 'groß' (great), 'stark' (strong), 'wenig' (little), or 'gering' (low) are frequently used. The combination 'mangelndes Selbstvertrauen' (lack of self-confidence) is also very common.
Sie ist eine Sportlerin mit einem starken Selbstvertrauen.
She is an athlete with strong self-confidence.
self-confidence / self-awareness
'das Selbstbewusstsein' and 'das Selbstvertrauen' are often used very similarly in everyday language. In that case, both mean that someone believes in themselves and their abilities. 'Selbstvertrauen' especially emphasizes trust in one's own ability and judgment. 'Selbstbewusstsein' can mean the same thing, but it can also more generally mean that someone is aware of themselves. Learners can therefore easily confuse the words. In many everyday sentences, both are possible; for 'trust in one's own abilities', 'Selbstvertrauen' is especially precise.
Nach vielen Fahrstunden hat die Fahrerin mehr Selbstvertrauen im Verkehr.
After many driving lessons, the driver has more self-confidence in traffic.
Durch den Kurs ist ihr Selbstbewusstsein deutlich gewachsen.
Her self-confidence has grown noticeably through the course.