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性格 (xìng gé) — personality, character, temperament

Definition

The default, neutral word for someone's overall personality or character. 脾气 is more about short temper or mood; 个性 emphasizes individuality.

noun
personalitycharactertemperament
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 性格，。
    Tā de xìng gé hěn hǎo, dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā.
    His personality is very good; everyone likes him.
  • 性格？
    Nǐ liǎo jiě tā de xìng gé ma?
    Do you know her personality?
  • 性格。
    Yí gè rén de xìng gé huì suí zhe shí jiān gǎi biàn.
    A person's personality changes over time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

性xìngnature
格géquality

The 性 (nature) and 格 (quality) together describe a person's temperament.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng性xìng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

性 is built from 忄 (the heart) and 生 (a sound clue). The heart part connects the word to a person's inner nature or quality.

Open 性 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè格gé
Same sound today

格 is built from 木 (wood) on the left and 各 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 格 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Personality & Traits5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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