Korean word

성격

Pronunciation

Romanizationseonggyeok

Meaning

  • nounpersonality

Example

우리는 성격이 맞아서 친구가 되었어요.u ri neun seong gyeo gi ma ja seo chin gu ga toe eo sseo yo

Our personalities matched, so we became friends.

Illustration for 성격 (personality)

More examples

사람들은 성격이 차갑다고 느끼면 먼저 다가가지 않는다.sa ram deu reun seong gyeo gi cha gap tta go neu kki myeon meon jeo ta ga ga ji an neun da

People do not make the first move toward someone they think has a cold personality.

Core concept

A person's inner pattern of thoughts, feelings, and actions that shapes how they usually come across.

Common phrases

  • 성격이 좋다seong gyeo gi cho ta

    have a good personality

  • 성격이 순하다seong gyeo gi sun ha da

    have a mild personality

  • 성격이 차갑다seong gyeo gi cha gap tta

    have a cold personality

Similar words

성질seongjil: A person's typical way of reacting, especially when emotions rise.
성향seonghyang: A tendency to lean toward a certain way of thinking or acting.
기질kijil: A natural trait present from birth that shapes how a person feels and reacts.

Definition in Korean

사람이 평소에 보이는 생각·감정·행동의 경향이나 특성.sa ra mi pyeong so e po i neun saeng gak kam jeong haeng dong ui kyeong hyang i na teuk sseong

Word origin

The Sino-Korean word combines elements meaning nature and pattern, linking a person's inner qualities with the way they appear in behavior.

Usage tips

  • In English, character can suggest moral goodness, while personality clearly points to a person's usual thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

Other meanings

  • characternoun
  • temperamentnoun
  • naturenoun

Related words

  • 성격유형seonggyeogyuhyeongpersonality typenoun
  • 성격차이seonggyeokchaipersonality differencenoun

Word lists with this word