Personality in Chinese
The Chinese word for "personality" is 性格 (xìng gé). Below are 30 Chinese words for personality, each with pinyin, English and its level in the new HSK 3.0 word list. They cover HSK 4 to HSK 7-9, in the order a learner meets them.
Personality & character traits HSK 4 lesson
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 性格 | xìng gé | personality / character | 4 |
| 幽默 | yōu mò | humorous | 4 |
| 严格 | yán gé | strict | 4 |
| 勇敢 | yǒng gǎn | brave | 4 |
| 主动 | zhǔ dòng | to take the initiative | 5 |
| 积极 | jī jí | positive / proactive | 4 |
| 耐心 | nài xīn | patient | 4 |
| 诚实 | chéng shí | honest | 4 |
| 骄傲 | jiāo ào | proud / arrogant | 4 |
| 懒 | lǎn | lazy | 4 |
| 马虎 | mǎ hu | careless / sloppy | 6 |
| 笨 | bèn | stupid / clumsy | 4 |
| 粗心 | cū xīn | inattentive / careless | 4 |
| 随便 | suí biàn | casual / as you wish | 4 |
| 脾气 | pí qi | temper | 4 |
| 仔细 | zǐ xì | careful / attentive | 4 |
Personal Qualities & Character HSK 6 lesson
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | HSK 3.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 棒 | bàng | great, terrific (colloquial); also: stick, club | 4 |
| 宝贵 | bǎo guì | precious, valuable | 5 |
| 诚恳 | chéng kěn | sincere | 7-9 |
| 丑 | chǒu | ugly | 5 |
| 大方 | dà fāng | generous; poised, natural in manner | 6 |
| 单纯 | dān chún | simple, naive | 6 |
| 单调 | dān diào | monotonous, dull | 6 |
| 调皮 | tiáo pí | naughty, mischievous | 5 |
| 乖 | guāi | (of a child) obedient, well-behaved | 7-9 |
| 豪华 | háo huá | luxurious | 7-9 |
| 刻苦 | kè kǔ | hardworking, diligent | 7-9 |
| 老实 | lǎo shi | honest; sincere | 6 |
| 乐观 | lè guān | optimistic | 5 |
| 了不起 | liǎo bu qǐ | amazing, extraordinary | 5 |
Every word links to its dictionary entry, with audio, example sentences and stroke order. The words are grouped by the GraphChinese lesson that teaches them, so a few in each group belong to the lesson and sit a little outside the topic.
More topics:
- family
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- sports and hobbies
- nature and animals
- shopping and money
- directions
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- pronouns
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- house and home
- everyday verbs
- technology
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- conjunctions
- entertainment and the arts
- festivals and holidays
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- All topics
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "personality" in Chinese?
性格 (xìng gé), meaning "personality; character". The most common words in this topic are 性格 (xìng gé, personality / character), 幽默 (yōu mò, humorous), 严格 (yán gé, strict), 勇敢 (yǒng gǎn, brave).
How many Chinese words for personality do I need?
This page lists 30, from HSK 4 to HSK 7-9. The 16 at the top are enough to start; the rest follow level by level.
What do the HSK levels on this page mean?
Each word shows where the new HSK 3.0 word list places it, from level 1 to the 7-9 band. A dash means the word is taught in the course and is not on the HSK 3.0 list. HSK 3.0, complete.
How do I pronounce these words?
The pinyin beside each word gives the sound and the tone. Each word links to its dictionary entry, where you can hear it. If the tone marks are new to you, start with the four tones, explained.
GraphChinese teaches these words in dependency order, with audio, and only moves on when each one is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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