Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 性格 | xìnggé |
| 個性 / 个性 | gèxìng |
Personality refers to the set of qualities that make a person distinct from other people. You can describe specific traits using terms like 外向 (outgoing), 内向 (introverted), 固执 (stubborn) or 没耐心 (impatient). If you want to say that someone has a good personality, you can use the phrase 性格好.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 性格 is composed of 性 (nature/sex) and 格 (pattern/standard). The word 个性 is composed of 个 (individual/unit) and 性 (nature/character).
Which one should you use?
While both terms relate to personality, 性格 is the most common term used for a person's general character or temperament. In contrast, 个性 emphasizes the unique, individualistic traits that distinguish one person from another.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term 性格 is often preferred over 个性 when referring to personality.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is xìnggé.
Did you know?
- The term 个性 is frequently used as an adjective in modern marketing to describe 'personalized' or 'customized' products, such as 个性化 ('individualized').
- To describe someone as 'strong-willed' or 'having a strong personality', Chinese speakers often use 个性强, which can sometimes be a subtle criticism suggesting the person is difficult to manage.
- When talking about a person's 'character' in a moral sense, Chinese often shifts from 性格 to 人品, which focuses specifically on whether a person is good or bad.
Examples in context
- 湯姆具有詼諧的性格。Tom has quite a quirky personality.This sentence shows how to describe a quirky personality using 性格.Tatoeba #13149133 by LeviHighway, translation #3472320 by patgfisher
- 科学上，血型和性格的关联性没有被证明。A connection between personality and blood type has not been scientifically proven.This sentence illustrates the scientific context of the word 性格.Tatoeba #4147227 by sissima, translation #4197966 by Sereptie
- 他有一個很好的性格。He has a wonderful personality.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone has a wonderful personality using 性格.Tatoeba #833250 by Martha, translation #290313 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a new classmate.
- 浩然 Haoran你觉得新来的同学怎么样？Nǐ juéde xīn lái de tóngxué zěnmeyàng?What do you think of the new classmate?
- 梓涵 Zihan我觉得他的性格很开朗。Wǒ juéde tā de xìnggé hěn kāilǎng.I think his personality is very cheerful.
- 浩然 Haoran没错，他很容易相处。Méicuò, tā hěn róngyì xiāngchǔ.That's true, he is easy to get along with.
- 梓涵 Zihan我们应该多和他接触。Wǒmen yīnggāi duō hé tā jiēchù.We should spend more time with him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “personality” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
