素性 (sù xìng) — innate disposition, natural temperament
Definition
素性 refers to a person's innate, inborn temperament — the disposition someone is 'born with', deeper and more fixed than everyday mood. Often used in formal or literary writing about character.
noun
innate dispositionnatural temperament
Examples
- 素性，。Tā sù xìng wēn hé, cóng bù yǔ rén zhēng chǎo.He has a gentle disposition and never argues with anyone.
- 素性，。Yí gè rén de sù xìng hěn nán gǎi biàn, dàn xíng wéi kě yǐ tiáo zhěng.A person's innate temperament is hard to change, but behavior can be adjusted.
- 素性，。Xiǎo shuō zhǔ rén gōng de sù xìng gāng liè, zuì hòu xuǎn zé le zì shā.The novel's protagonist has a fiery disposition and ultimately chose suicide.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.