word choice - What's the difference between 信じる, 信用する and 信頼す る?

What's the difference between 信じる, 信用する and 信頼する ? How can I know which one to use? According to my dictionary they all mean "to trust". Are they interchangeable?

For example,

I trust you.

Answer

Off the top of my head I would summarize the differences as follows.

• 信じる is to believe a single fact or statement (or, by extension, believe that something exists or is true)


• 信用する is to have faith in a source of information


• 信頼する is to trust a person (or institution)

So, for example

田中さんを信じる。
I believe what Mr. Tanaka said.

田中さんを信用できる。
I can ["always"] believe what Mr. Tanaka says.

田中さんを信頼する。
I trust Mr. Tanaka [to always do the right thing].