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 |
| 彼 は性格 がいい。 |
| He has a good personality. |
| 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!
単語リスト（Vocabulary list）
| 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 |