気性

Both 気性 (kishou) and 性格 (seikaku) refer to someone's character or disposition. However, 気性 often refers to an innate, almost instinctive temperament, especially in how someone reacts to things. Think of it as a person's 'nature' or 'spirit.' 性格, on the other hand, is a broader term for personality, including learned behaviors and habits. You might say someone has a 'good 性格' or a 'bad 性格,' but 気性 often carries a stronger sense of how easily someone gets angry, happy, etc. For example, you might hear 「気が荒い気性」 (ki ga arai kishou - a rough temperament) or 「優しい気性」 (yasashii kishou - a gentle disposition).

While 気性 is primarily used for people, you might occasionally hear it used metaphorically for animals, especially those with distinct temperaments, like a horse or a dog. However, it's not commonly used for inanimate objects. For objects, you would use other words to describe their characteristics.

気性 is a noun, so it often appears with adjectives or verbs that describe the nature of that disposition. For example:

• 「彼は気性が荒い。」 (Kare wa kishou ga arai.) - He has a rough temperament.
• 「彼女は優しい気性の持ち主だ。」 (Kanojo wa yasashii kishou no mochinushi da.) - She possesses a gentle disposition.
• 「気性が合う二人。」 (Kishou ga au futari.) - Two people whose temperaments match.

気性 itself is neutral. It simply describes a person's disposition. The connotation depends entirely on the adjectives or context used with it. For example, 「気性が良い」 (kishou ga yoi - good temperament) is positive, while 「気性が悪い」 (kishou ga warui - bad temperament) is negative. 「気性が激しい」 (kishou ga hageshii - intense temperament) could be seen as either positive or negative depending on the situation.

Yes, there are a few common phrases:

• 「気性が荒い」 (kishou ga arai): meaning 'to have a rough/violent temperament.'
• 「気性が激しい」 (kishou ga hageshii): meaning 'to have an intense/fiery temperament.'
• 「気性が合う」 (kishou ga au): meaning 'to have compatible temperaments.'
• 「気性が座っている」 (kishou ga suwatte iru): meaning 'to be calm and composed.' (This one is a bit less common but useful.)

気性 is a relatively neutral word in terms of formality. You can use it in both formal and informal contexts. It's not overly polite or overly casual. It's a standard descriptive term.

気性 describes the underlying tendency of how someone experiences and expresses feelings or emotions. For example, someone with 「気性が激しい」 might get angry quickly or be very passionate. Someone with 「優しい気性」 might be less prone to outbursts and more empathetic. So, while it's not an emotion itself, it influences emotional expression.

While 気性 often refers to an innate disposition, aspects of it can certainly be influenced by life experiences and personal growth. Someone might learn to manage a 'rough temperament' or cultivate a 'gentler disposition.' However, the fundamental inclination might remain. It's less about a complete change and more about refinement or control.

The best English equivalents are disposition, temperament, or nature. 'Character' can also work, but 'disposition' and 'temperament' often capture the nuance of inherent qualities and how one reacts to situations more accurately than the broader term 'character'.

No, 気性 is not used to describe a mood. A mood is a temporary emotional state, like being happy or sad. 気性, on the other hand, is a more permanent, underlying aspect of a person's personality or nature. You would use words like 「気分」 (kibun) for mood.