How to describe personalities in Japanese
Welcome back to another “Video & Article” series, this time for another live-stream with tutor Erika. In this live-stream we will take a look at how to describe personalities in Japanese. There are a couple of phrases and words that are commonly used to describe people’s dispositions in Japanese. In this article, we will introduce some of them to help you describe the people around you with natural Japanese expressions!
| Table of Contents [Introduction: 性格] [Expressions to describe dispositions] |
[Introduction: 性格]
みなさんは自分の性格を日本語で説明することが出来ますか？
Have you ever tried to describe your own personality in Japanese? Well, in order to talk about personalities, let’s first of all look at the word personality itself: 性格. Here is how it is often used in a sentence:
性格がいい
To have a good personality
性格悪い
To have a bad personality
For example:
彼は性格がいい。
He has a good personality.
Let’s look at another example:
理想の男性は？
What’s your ideal man like?
性格が良ければ顔はどうでもいいよ。
I don’t care about his face as long as he has a good personality.
[Expressions to describe dispositions]
次にその人を表す言葉を想像してみてください。
Next, let’s try to come up with some stereotypical people and describe their personalities. We’ll be introducing lots of examples!
たくやくんは、友達をカラオケに誘ったり、にこにこして話をきいてくれるので人気があります。
Takuya invites his friends to Karaoke and smiles all the time. He also listens to his friends, so he is popular.
This kind of personality would be called “気さく” and “社交的”.
気さく
Friendly, good humored
社交的
Sociable
Example:
私は社交的な性格です。
I’m a sociable person.
彼は気さくな人です。
He is a friendly person.
太郎君は、試合に負けるといつまでも悔しがります。
When Taro loses a game, he can’t let it go for a long time.
This kind of personality would be called “負けず嫌い” in Japanese.
負けず嫌い
Hating to lose, determined, sore loser, competitive
Example:
私は負けず嫌いです。
I’m competitive.
Or:
私は、負けるのが嫌いです。
I really hate losing.
テイラー、あなたは本当に負けず嫌いです。
Taylor, you really are a sore loser.
その通りです。
Yes, that’s right.
かなこさんは、試合でペアを組んだ相手が何度失敗しても、怒らないで試合を続けます。また最後まであきらめず、頑張ります。
Kanako continues the game without getting angry, even if the person she’s paired with in the game fails many times. And also she will not give up to the end and do her best.
This kind of personality is called “我慢強い” or “粘り強い”.
我慢強い
Patient
粘り強い
Persevering, stubborn
Example:
彼のお兄さんは彼よりも我慢強い。
His older brother is even more patient than he is.
けんさんはいつも時間に遅れたり、忘れ物をします。
Ken is always late and loses his stuff all the time.
This disposition is called “だらしない”.
だらしない
Sloppy, irresponsible
Example:
なんでそんなにだらしないの…？
Why are you so irresponsible…?
Zackはマネージャーなので練習
時間の30分前にコートに来て、ネットやボールの準備をします。いろいろな連絡も忘れたことがありません。
Zack is the manager, so he arrives at the coat 30 minutes before practice time to prepare the net and balls. He never forgets to take care of his many contacts.
In Japanese, you can refer to a person like this as “責任感がある”.
責任感がある
To be responsible, to have a strong sense of responsibility
Example:
彼女
は責任感があり、いつも締め切りを守る。
She has a strong sense of responsibility and always meets her deadlines.
So, what kind of personality do you have? Try describing each other’s personality with a friend to practice!
That’s it for today. If you have any questions, you can always clear them up by booking a lesson with one of our native Japanese tutors. See you next time!
| 性格 | Character, personality |
| 性格がいい | To have a good personality |
| 性格がわるい | To have a bad personality |
| 理想 | Ideal |
| 表す | To represent, to show |
| 想像する | To imagine |
| 誘う | To invite |
| にこにこする | To always be smiling |
| 人気がある | To be popular |
| 気さく | Friendly good humored |
| 社交的 | Social |
| 試合 | Match, game |
| 負ける | To lose |
| 悔しがる | To feel bitter, to feel vexed |
| 負けず嫌い | Hating to lose, determined, sore loser, competitive |
| 相手 | Partner, companion |
| 失敗する | To fail |
| 怒る | To get angry, to get mad |
| 続ける | To continue, to keep up |
| 我慢強い | Patient |
| 粘り強い | Persevering, stubborn |
| 忘れ物 | Lost items |
| だらしない | Sloppy, irresponsible |
| 責任感がある | To be responsible, to have a strong sense of responsibility |
| 締め切り | Deadline |
