人格

• Reading: じんかく
• Romaji: jinkaku
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin) — person, human; 格 (kaku) — status, quality, character
• Pronunciation: /dʑiɴ.ka.kɯ/

Meaning

Personality; character; individuality; personhood. The qualities that form a person's distinctive nature.

A noun referring to the totality of a person's character traits, moral qualities, and individuality. More formal and evaluative than 性格 (seikaku, personality/character) — 人格 often implies moral or ethical dimensions. Common collocations include 人格者 (jinkakusha, person of great character), 人格を磨く (jinkaku wo migaku, to refine one's character), and 人格形成 (jinkaku keisei, character formation). Also a legal term meaning 'personhood' or 'legal personality.'

Examples

1. 彼は人格者として周囲から尊敬されている。 He is respected by those around him as a person of great character.
2. 子どもの人格形成には家庭環境が大きく影響する。 The home environment has a major influence on a child's character development.
3. どんなに能力があっても、人格に問題があれば信頼されない。 No matter how talented you are, if you have character flaws, you won't be trusted.

Usage Guide

Context: psychology, ethics, education

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 人 (jin, person/human) + 格 (kaku, status/quality/character). Literally 'human quality' — the essential nature and moral standing of a person.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal