性格 ( = seikaku) How to describe personality in Japanese

「よく、性格もいいし、器量もいいって言われるの。」

= Yoku, seikaku mo iishi, kiryou mo iitte iwareru no.

= People often tell me I have a nice personality AND good looking.

「おまけにとっても謙虚でしょ。」

= Omake ni tottemo kenkyo desho.

= On top of that, I am also very modest, right?

Hi everyone!
Today’s guest teacher is Tiger-Sensei.  She is a 4 year old and a sister of Fella Sensei who gave you the “How to give directions” lesson.
I wonder what her personality is….

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こんにちは！Tigerです。

= Konnichiwa! Tiger desu.

= Hello, I am Tiger!

虎みたいに見える？心配しないでね。とっても優しい猫だから。

= Tora mitai ni mieru? Shinpai shinai dene. Tottemo yasashii neko dakara.

= Do I look like a tiger? Don’t worry! I am a very sweet cat.

Today we will learn lots of ways to describe people’s personalities in Japanese. There are many ways to do this, so we’ll concentrate on the most common words.
We’ll also learn ways to describe people’s characteristics as well.
Hope this list helps you increase your vocabulary.

First let’s learn the word for “personality.”

“Personality” in Japanese is

→ 性格 =せいかく( = seikaku).

 

Here’s how we use it.

⬇️

*性格がいい =  seikaku ga ii = to have a good personality

*性格が悪い =  seikaku ga warui = to have a bad personality

Ex. マギーは性格がいい。

= Maggie wa seikaku ga ii.

= Maggie has a nice personality.

Ex. 「理想の男性は？」

= Risou no dansei wa?

= What is your ideal man?

「性格がよければ顔はどうでもいいです。」

= Seikaku ga yokereba kao wa doudemo ii desu.

= I don’t care about his face as long as he has a good personality.

🌸 Expressions using 性格  ( = seikaku)

* 性格が合わない

= Seikaku ga awanai

= to have bad chemistry

(We also say 相性が合わない = aishou ga awanai)

* 性格の不一致

= Seikaku no fuicchi

= mismatched, incompatible

Ex. 性格の不一致による離婚

=Seikaku no fuicchi ni yoru rikon

= The divorce based on incompatibility

⭐️ Describing one’s personality:

I will give you a list of words we can use to describe one’s personality.

*How to use this list.

I will mark the word as follows.

➡️ positive ★

➡️ negative ☆

➡️ neutral ＊

● na-adjective:

*Ex. 社交的（な）= shakouteki na = outgoing

➡️ 彼は社交的だ。/ (more polite) 〜社交的です。

= Kare wa shakouteki da. /shakouteki desu.

= He is outgoing.

➡️　彼は社交的な性格だ。/ (more polite) 〜社交的な性格です。

= Kare wa shakoutekina seikaku da. / shakoutekina seikaku desu.

(literal translation:  His personality is outgoing.)

= He is outgoing.

➡️ 彼は社交的な人だ。/ (more polite) 〜社交的な人です。

= Kare wa shakouteki na hito da./  shakouteki na hito desu.

= He is an outgoing person.

● i-adjective:

Ex.  明るい = akarui = cheerful, bright, happy

➡️マギーは明るい。/ (more polite) 〜明るいです。

= Maggie wa akarui./ akarui desu.

= Maggie is cheerful / bright.

➡️ マギーは明るい性格だ。/ (more polite) 〜明るい性格です。

= Maggie wa akarui seikaku da. / akarui seikaku desu.

(literal translation:  Maggie’s personality is cheerful.)

= Maggie is cheerful/ bright.

➡️ マギーは明るい犬だ。/ (more polite) 〜 明るい犬です。

= Maggie wa akarui inu da. / akarui inu desu.

= Maggie is a happy dog.

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 🌸 Cheerful, bright, diplomatic

★ 社交的 (な)  = shakouteki (na) =  outgoing

★ 明るい = akarui = cheerful, bright, happy

★ 元気 (な) = genki (na) = cheerful, energetic

★ 陽気 (な)  = youki (na) = happy, vivacious, upbeat

★ 気さく(な)  = kisaku = friendly

★ さっぱりしている = sappari shite iru = good sport

（You can also say さっぱりした= sappari shita)

★ 活発 (な)  = kappatsu (na) = active

★ 愛想がいい = aiso ga ii = friendly, affable

🌸  shy

＊ 内向的 (な) = naikouteki (na)  = introverted

＊ 恥ずかしがり(な) = hazukashigari (na) = shy

＊  恥ずかしがり屋 = hazukashigariya  = a shy person

＊  内気(な) = uchiki (na) = shy,  introverted

🌸  positive

＊楽天的 (な)  = rakutenteki (na) = optimistic

★ 積極的 (な) =  sekkyokuteki (na) = positive

★ ポジティブ (な) = pojitibu (na) = positive

★ 前向き (な) = maemuki (na) = positive

🌸  gloomy

☆ 暗い = kurai = gloomy, depressing

☆ 根が暗い = nega kurai = gloomy

☆ 根暗 (な) = nekura (na) = gloomy

☆ 陰気 (な) = inki (na) = gloomy

☆ 悲観的 (な) = hikanteki (na) = pessimistic

🌸  sweet, nice, good hearted, warm

★ いい = ii = nice, good hearted

★ 親切(な) = shinsetsu (na)  = nice, kind

★ 優しい = yasashii  = sweet, nice

★ 面倒見がいい = mendoumi ga ii = caring (a person who takes care of others.)

★ 温かい = atatakai = warm

★ 思いやりのある = omoiyari no aru= thoughtful

★ 慈悲深い = jihibukai = merciful

★ 情け深い = nasakebukai = compassionate

🌸  cold, cool

☆ 冷たい = tsumetai =  cold

☆ 冷淡 (な) = reitan (na) = cold hearted

☆ 冷酷 (な) = reikoku (na) = cold hearted

★ クール (な) = kuuru (na) = cool

🌸  funny

★ 面白い = omoshiroi = funny

★ ユーモアの(or が）ある = yuumoa no (or ga)  aru = humorous

★ おかしい = okashii = funny (or strange)

🌸  sincere, honest

★誠実 (な) = seijitsu (na) = sincere

★正直 (な) = shoujiki (na) = honest

🌸   serious

＊真面目 (な)  =  majime (na) = serious

＊生真面目 (な)  =  kimajime (na) = serious

🌸 shallow

☆ 軽い =  karui  = shallow

☆チャラい = charai = (slang) shallow

🌸 laid back

★ のんびりしている = nonbiri shite iru  =  easy going, laid back

★ おおらか (な) = ooraka (na)  =  gentle, quiet

★ 穏やか (な) = odayaka (na)  = calm

★ おっとり (した) = ottori (shita) =  gentle, quiet, slow

🌸 pure, simple-minded

★ 純粋 (な)  =  junsui (na) = pure, simple-minded

★ 純真 (な)  =  junshin (na) = pure, simple-minded

★ 素直 (な)  =  suanao (na) = gentle, obedient

★ 純朴 (な)  =  junboku (na) = simple and honest

＊うぶ (な)  =  ubu (na) = innocent

🌸 simple minded

＊単純 (な）= tanjun (na) = simple minded

🌸 generous

★ 寛容 (な)  =  kan’you (na)=  generous

★ 気前の (or が) いい = kimae no (or ga) ii  = generous

★ 寛大 (な) = kandai (na)  = generous

★ 太っ腹 (な) = futoppara (na) = generous

★ 心の広い = kokoro no hiroi = broad-minded

★懐の大きい= futokoro no ookii = broad-minded

★包容力のある= houyouryoku no aru = broad-minded

🌸 frugal, prudent

＊倹約家  = kenyaku ka =  a frugal person

＊慎重 (な)  = shinchou (na)  =  cautious

🌸 cheap, stingy

☆ケチ/ けち (な)  = kechi(na)  = cheap, stingy

🌸 greedy

☆欲が深い = yoku ga fukai = greedy

☆ 欲深い = yokubukai = greedy

🌸 passionate, temperamental

★情熱的 (な) = jounetsu teki (na) = passionate

＊激しい  =  hageshii = passionate

 (Note: It could be used in a negative meaning ☆ temperamental )

☆ 気性が激しい  = kishou ga hageshii = temperamental

☆ 感情の起伏が激しい = kanjou no kifuku ga hageshii =  temperamental

🌸 strong, strong-minded

＊強い = tsuyoi  = strong, tough-minded

☆きつい = kitsui  = strong-minded

☆ 勝ち気 (な)  = kachiki = strong-minded

☆ 気が強い = ki ga tsuyoi = strong-minded

🌸 weak

☆ 気が弱い  = ki ga yowai = wimp

＊かよわい = kayowai = weak, feeble

☆ 泣き虫  = nakimushi = wimp, crybaby

🌸strong at home but weak outside.

＊内弁慶=uchibenkei= a lion at home and a mouse outside.

🌸 down to earth

★ 地に足 (の)ついた  = chi ni ashi (no) tsuita = down to earth

＊現実的 (な)  = genjitsuteki (na) =  down to earth, realistic

🌸   responsible

★ 責任感のある = sekininkan no aru = responsible

★しっかりした = shikkari shita = responsible, mature

🌸 irresponsible

☆ 無責任 (な)  = musekinin (na) = irresponsible, uninhibited

☆ いい加減 (な)  = iikagen (na) = irresponsible

☆ 適当 (な) = tekitou (na) = irresponsible

🌸  spaced out, goofy

＊ 天然  = tennen  = (slang) natural, goofy

☆ 天然ボケ  =  tennen boke  = (slang)  goofy,  a person who is naturally spaced out

☆おっちょこちょい = occhokochoi= a scatterbrain, a careless person

🌸 quiet

＊ 静か (な)  = shizuka (na) = quiet

＊ 物静か (な)  = monoshizuka (na) = quiet

＊大人しい  = otonashii = quiet, gentle

＊ 無口 (な)  = mukuchi (na) = quiet

＊ 温和 (な)  = onwa (na) = gentle, peaceful

＊ 寡黙 (な)  = kamoku (na) = quiet

🌸  nosy, talkative

☆ おしゃべり (な)  = oshaberi (na) = talkative, chatterbox

☆ おせっかい (な)  = osekkai (na) = nosy

☆ でしゃばり (な)  = deshabari (na) = nosy, pushy

☆ うるさい  = urusai = loud, nosy

(Note: うるさい ( = urusai) also means “meticulous“)

🌸 brave

★ 勇気がある = yuuki ga aru = brave

★ 勇ましい = isamashii = brave

🌸 coward

☆ 臆病 (な)  = okubyou (na) = chicken, coward

☆ 消極的 (な) = shoukyokuteki (na) = passive

🌸 patient

★ 忍耐強い = nintai zuyoi = patient

★ 我慢強い = gaman zuyoi = patient

🌸 stubborn

☆ 頑固(な)  = ganko (na) = stubborn

🌸 diligent, hard worker

★ 勤勉 (な)  = kinben (na) = diligent, hard worker

★ 努力家  = doryokuka = a hard worker

★ がんばりや = ganbariya = a hard worker

🌸 polite

★ 礼儀正しい  = reigitadashii = polite

★ 丁寧 (な) = teinei (na) = polite

🌸 modest

★謙虚 (な)  = kenkyo (na) = humble, modest

★腰の低い  = koshi no hikui = polite, humble

🌸 rude, impolite

☆ 無礼(な) = burei (na) = rude, impolite

☆ 礼儀をわきまえない = reigi wo wakimaenai= rude, impolite

☆ 礼儀知らず = reigi shirazu = rude, impolite

🌸rough, crude

☆ 粗野 (な) = soya (na) = rough, crude

☆ 乱暴 (な) = ranbou (na) = rough, crude

🌸  sensitive

＊ 繊細 (な) = sensai (na) = sensitive

＊神経の(or が）細やか (な) = shinkei no (or ga)  komayaka (na) = sensitive

☆えり好みの激しい = erigonomi no hageshii = picky

☆ 神経質 (な) = shinkeishitsu (na) = nervous

☆ 心配性 = shinpaishou = worrier, worrywart

🌸   insensitive

☆ 無神経 (な) = mushinkei (na) = insensitive

☆ 厚かましい = atsukamashii = bold

☆ 図々しい = zuuzuushii = bold

🌸 nervous, impatient

☆いらち = irachi = (Osaka dialect) impatient, irritable

☆ せっかち (な) = sekkachi (na) = impatient

🌸  organized

★ きちんとした= kichinto shita = well-organized

＊ 几帳面(な) = kichoumen (na) = well-organized, meticulous

＊  完全主義 = kanzen shugi = perfectionist

☆ 細かい = komakai = meticulous

🌸Square

＊ 堅い = katai = square

＊ 保守的(な) = hoshuteki (na) = conservative

🌸 sloppy

☆ だらしない = darashinai = sloppy

🌸  strange / original, unique

☆ 変わった = kawatta = strange

☆ 変人 = henjin = deviant, cockoo，weirdo

☆  奇人 = kijin = deviant, cockoo, weirdo

★ 個性的 (な) = koseiteki (na) = unique, eccentric

🌸 mysterious

＊不思議 (な)  = fushigi (na) = mysterious, eccentric

➡️(slang) 不思議ちゃん  = fushigi-chan = an eccentric/strange girl

＊つかみどころのない = tsukami dokoro no nai = elusive

🌸 stuck up

☆つんつん(ツンツン）している = tsuntsun shite iru = stuck up

☆ ツンデレ  = tsundere = (slang) a woman who is cold or aloof at the beginning but gets lovestruck when you come to know her.

☆ お高くとまっている = otakaku tomatte iru = stuck up

☆ 高慢(な) = kouman (na) = stuck up

☆ 気取っている = kidotte iru =  stuck up

☆ 見栄っ張り = mieppari = stuck up

🌸 arrogant

☆ 横柄 (な)  = ouhei (na) = arrogant

☆ 傲慢 (な)  = gouman (na) = arrogant

☆ いばっている = ibatte iru= bossy

☆ 生意気 (な) = namaiki (na) = cocky

🌸 angry, short tempered

☆ 短気(な)  = tanki (na) = short tempered

☆ 気難しい = kimuzukashii = temperamental

☆ 怒りっぽい = okorippoi = short tempered, cranky

☆ 怒りん坊 = okorinbou = (a little childish) hothead, short tempered person, irritable person

☆ 攻撃的 (な)  = kougekiteki (na) = aggressive

🌸 sly

☆ ずるい = zurui = sly, cunning

☆ 抜け目ない  = nukemenai = shrewd

🌸 mean

☆ 意地が悪い = iji ga warui = mean

☆  意地悪 (な) = ijiwaru (na) = mean

☆  底意地が悪い = sokoiji ga warui = very mean

🌸 selfish

☆ 自己中心的(な)  = jiko chuushinteki (na) = self-centered, self-absorbed

➡️(abbreviation) 自己中  = jikochuu  (slang)

☆ わがまま (な) = wagamama (na) = selfish, egoistic

☆ ナルシスト = narushisuto = narcissist

🌸(abbreviation) ナル = naru (slang)

Note: You use

➡️ 〜やすい= yasui = “someone who is easy to ~”

to describe one’ s personality

★ 話しやすい  = hanashiyasui = to be easy to talk to

★ 打ち解けやすい  = uchitokeyasui = to be easy to make friends with

★ 付き合いやすい  = tsukiai yasui = to be easy to get along with

Also you use

*~にくい  = nikui = “someone who is difficult to ~ “

☆とっつきにくい  = tottsukinikui = to be hard to approach

🌸  Others:

★ 大人っぽい  = otonappoi = mature

☆ 子供っぽい  = kodomoppoi = childish

★ 家庭的 (な)  = kateiteki (na) = homey

★ 上品 (な)  = jouhin (na) = elegant, decent

☆ 下品 (な) = gehin (na) = indecent

☆ 痛い = itai = (slang) pathetic

☆ 嫉妬深い  = shitto bukai = to get jalous easily

＊ 自由(な) = jiyuu (na) = uninhibited

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🌸Colloquial expressions:

★キャラ ( = kyara)

キャラ( = kyara) is a slang word which came from an English word, キャラクター ( = kyarakutaa) character.
In Japanese, we use  the word キャラ( = kyara) for both character (especially “characters in anime, game, drama, etc.) and one’s personality.

Ex. いいキャラしているね。

= Ii kyara shite irune.

= Some personality you have.

(It could be a compliment or sarcasm.)

Ex. 最近、マギー、キャラ変わったね。

= Saikin, Maggie, kyara kawattane.

= Your personality has changed lately, Maggie.

Ex. どうしたの？急にキャラ変わったけど。

= Doushitano? Kyuu ni kyara kawatta kedo.

= What’s going on? You seem to be a different person all of a sudden.

Ex. キャラが濃い

= Kyara ga koi.

= eccentric,  strong personality

Ex. いじられキャラ = Ijirare kyara = (slang) a person who is easily picked on / teased.

Ex. ヘタレキャラ  = hetare kyara = (slang) a wimp

*******

マギー先生より = Maggie sensei yori = From Maggie Sensei

Tiger先生、ありがとう！

= Tiger Sensei, arigatou!

= Thank you, Tiger sensei!

私はよく皆に「マギーは性格はいいんだけど…」って言われましたよ。 

= Watashi wa yoku mina ni “Maggie wa seikaku “wa” iindakedo…” to iwaremashitayo.

= Everybody used to tell me “Well, she is nice…but…”

 

(Note: If someone says 性格もいい = seikaku mo ii, it means you ”also have a nice personality.” But if they say “性格”は”いい” ( = seikaku “waI ii) implies “to have a nice personality but maybe something else is wrong, like your appearance or something else. )

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