人柄

• Reading: ひとがら
• Romaji: hitogara
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin/hito) — person; 柄 (gara/e) — pattern, character, handle
• Pronunciation: /hi.to.ɡa.ɾa/

Meaning

Personality; character; personal qualities. The inherent nature or disposition of a person.

A noun (also used as a na-adjective in the pattern 人柄のいい/よい) describing someone's personal character and disposition: 人柄がいい (to have a good personality), 人柄が伝わる (one's character comes through). Unlike 性格 (seikaku, personality/temperament), which is neutral, 人柄 carries a warmer nuance — it often refers to the overall impression a person gives, including their warmth, integrity, and likability. Frequently used when recommending or describing someone.

Examples

1. 彼の人柄のよさは誰もが認めている。 Everyone recognizes what a good person he is.
2. 面接では人柄も重視される。 Personal character is also given a lot of weight in interviews.
3. 話しているうちにその人の人柄が伝わってきた。 As we talked, their true character came through.

Usage Guide

Context: work, relationships, introductions

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From 人 (hito, person) + 柄 (gara, pattern/character/nature). The kanji 柄 originally referred to the pattern on fabric, then extended to mean the quality or nature of something — so 人柄 is 'the pattern of a person,' their characteristic nature.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal