性格 ( = seikaku) How to describe personality in Japanese

seikaku

「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….

*******
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.

*****************
 🌸 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 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

*******

🌸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

*******

maggie-sensei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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33 Comments

  1. Hi Maggie sensei, thank you for this very helpful post. I was wondering, how would you describe someone’s personality “on the inside,” as in describing a personality that may contradict that person’s appearance.

    1. Hello 震矢

      You can say
      性格と見た目が違う = せいかくとみためがちがう
      性格と外見が違う = せいかくとがいけんがちがう
      内面と外見が、一致しない= ないめんとがいけんが、いっちしない

  2. Hello 先生! I would just like to ask if 時間厳守する is also a personality? Can I say 私の性格は時間厳守する? Thank you in advance for the answer! :D

    1. Hello Kailyn

      時間厳守 means “時間を守る” so you use it to be very punctual for one specific event.
      Ex. 会議は8時に始まります。時間厳守してください。
      If you want to describe one’s personality you say
      彼は時間に厳しい

        1. Possible but actually when you are talking about yourself, 私は、時間をきちんと守り、忍耐強いです。might be more natural.

          1. Thank you very much 先生!:) I need it for my interview and I’m having a hard time in constructing long sentences.

  3. Maggie Sensei,
    Thank you for your hard work! Your explanations have saved me many times :)

    I have one question please.
    I am confused about adjectives and talking about personality.

    I am shy.
    Watashi wa hazukashii. / Watashi wa hazukashigariya.

    Hazukashii is an adjective. But Hazukashigariya is a noun.
    I don’t understand the grammar for (Subject-object marker- noun)
    Is this strange? Is there a difference in the nuance?

    (and not, for example. Kanajo wa akarui. But not, kanojo ha akaruigariya).
    Thank you very much!

    1. Hi Rho-chan
      Ah, those are special words.
      はずかしい = hazukashii means “to be embarrassed”
      はずかしがり/はずかしがりや= hazukashigari / hazukashigariya= describes shy person.
      You don’t say あかるがりや ( =akarugariya) “gari” only works with certain words.
      Please go check my garu-gari lesson.

      1. Maggie Sensei (Heart)

        Thank you for your reply. OK, I see.
        I will check out the garu-gari lesson :)

        Thank you so much!

  4. Maggie sensei, ども お疲れ 様 でした You’ve done a great, and super job! I am sure you have a great personality! “マギーsenseiは性格がいい。

  5. Hi Maggie Sensei,

    This article was very informative, and I was wondering if there was anything else you thought would be vital for a foreign exchange student in Japan to have mastered before going. I was recommended here by some other exchange students, but your website is massive and I want to master the essentials before I go. ありがとうございます!

    1. @Micah

      Hi Micah,
      Welcome to our site.
      I know there are lots of lessons here but you can go to the index page and pick whatever lesson you feel like checking. I can’t tell you what to study because I don’t know your interests and level.
      But you may want to go through the time related lesson, numbers, Typical questions from Japanese people, shopping lesson, restaurant, fast food Japanese.etc.

  6. Hi Maggie,
    Thank you for this great article.

    I was wondering, when I describe my own personality in Japanese culture, what are the acceptable words to use.
    For example, if I meet someone and I describe myself as 穏やかて優しい would that sound arrogant?

    1. @Teo

      Hi Teo,
      Right, I think it is the same in English. You don’t usually introduce yourself, “I am a sweet person.”
      But there is a trick word.
      You can say jokingly 自分で言うのもなんですが、穏やかで優しい方(ほう)だと思います。

      1. 努力家 = doryokiuka :rrrr: [doryokuka] = a hard worker

        完全主義 = kansen :rrrr: [kanzen] shugi = perfectionist

        とっつきにくい = tottukinikui[ottsukinikui] = to be hard to approach

  7. Many many thanks for this wonderful lesson, Maggie! Very well done!

    One little question. In what kind of situations do you use 痛い (slang) translated as “pathetic”? Could you make 2~3 sentences?

    1. @天人

      My pleasure!

      OK, as I mentioned in the lesson, 痛い is a slang expression.

      Ex. 「彼は、Twitterに毎日、自撮り(Selfie)をアップしているんだって。」
      「かなり痛い人になってるね。」

      Ex. 私の姉は30歳になってもまだハローキティーのぬいぐるみと寝ている痛い人です。

      Ex. 別れた彼が忘れられなくて毎日、彼の家の近くまで行っちゃうんだよね。私、かなり痛いよね。

      1. なるほどです!ありがとうな! :)
        (彼の家の近くまで行っちゃうだよね。 => 彼の家の近くまで行っちゃうんだよね。 ってね ^ ^)

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