摘要： 当前，“信任”研究存在定义不清、本土化探讨不充分等问题，大多数学者仅将其视为一类二元关系。实际上，中文语境中的“信任”是关乎“信任双方与托付项”的三元关系，是一类有边界、有目的的行动，而非态度。在此基础上，可以梳理出四类托付项——物品类、事项类、生命类和精神类，进而区分两类信任——施信方托付信任和获信方托付信任。进而言之，中文语境中的信任概念本身所关乎的“施信方、获信方、关系及托付项”四要素，以及由它们及其交互作用构成的存在体可以概括为“信任四面体”。其具有涌现性、不可还原性，可以避免既有的信任定义落入四面体的点、线或面的附近而犯还原论错误。不仅如此，信任四面体各要素之间具有相即不离的整全关系，任何要素的变化都“牵一发而动全身”，从而超越信任认识论，进入存在论。辨析信任研究之缺陷，澄清相关概念，亦助益中国哲学社会科学自主知识体系构建。

关键词: 信任, 四面体, 涌现性, 还原论, 认识论, 中文语境, 自主性

Abstract: Currently, there are issues in trust research, such as unclear definitions and insufficient localized discussions. Most scholars merely regard trust as a type of binary relationship. In fact, “trust” is a triadic relationship involving the trustor, the trustee, and the entrusted item. It is a kind of bounded and purposeful action, rather than an attitude. Based on this, four types of entrusted items can be identified: material items, tasks, lives, and spiritual aspects, which further distinguish trust entrusted by the trustor and trust entrusted by the trustee. Furthermore, the four elements involved in the concept of trust in the Chinese context— the trustor, the trustee, the relationship, and the entrusted item—as well as the entity composed of these elements and their interactions, can be summarized as the “trust tetrahedron”. This tetrahedron exhibits emergent and irreducible properties, preventing existing trust definitions from falling into reductionist errors by being confined to the points, lines, or surfaces of the tetrahedron. Moreover, the elements of the trust tetrahedron have an inseparable and holistic relationship, where any change in one element “affects the whole body”, transcending the epistemology of trust and entering the realm of ontology. By analyzing the shortcomings in trust research and clarifying relevant concepts, this conceptual exploration can also contribute to the indigenous autonomy of Chinese social sciences.

Key words: trust, tetrahedron, emergence, reductionism, epistemology, chinese context, autonomy