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B2 noun #4,500 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

성향

seonghyang Top 4,500

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces 성향 en 30 secondes

Explication 성향 in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word '성향' is quite advanced. However, you can think of it as a way to say 'what a person is like' or 'what they usually do.' Even though you might not use it in daily conversation yet, you might see it in simple personality quizzes or descriptions. Imagine you are saying 'I am a quiet person.' In Korean, you could later learn to say 'I have a quiet disposition.' At this stage, focus on the idea that every person is different and has their own way of acting. You can relate it to the word 'like' (좋아하다), but remember it's about who you are, not just what you like. For example, if you like to stay home, that is part of your 'disposition.' Just remember that '성향' is a noun that describes these deep feelings and habits that make you who you are. It's a big word for a simple idea: everyone has a unique 'style' of living.

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At the A2 level, you are starting to describe people in more detail. You already know words like '성격' (personality). Think of '성향' as a more specific part of personality. While '성격' is 'He is friendly,' '성향' is 'He has a tendency to be friendly to strangers.' You might hear this word when people talk about their 'hobbies' or 'work styles.' For example, 'I have a creative disposition' (저는 창의적인 성향이 있어요). This is a great word to use when you want to sound a bit more formal or precise than just using basic adjectives. You will often see it in the pattern '[Adjective] + 성향이 있다.' This means 'to have a [Adjective] tendency.' It helps you explain why you do certain things. If you are a student who likes to study alone, you have an 'independent disposition.' Learning this word now will help you understand more complex descriptions of people in stories or on TV shows.

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At the B1 level, you should begin to use '성향' to discuss more abstract topics like career choices or social behaviors. You are now moving beyond simple descriptions and starting to explain the reasons behind actions. For instance, you can use '성향' to describe why someone might be a good fit for a certain job. 'Because he has a leadership disposition, he is good for this role.' You should also recognize the word in the context of 'consumer tendencies' (소비 성향) or 'political leanings' (정치적 성향) when reading simple news articles. At this level, it is important to distinguish '성향' from '취향' (taste). Remember that '취향' is about your preference for things like food or movies, while '성향' is about your internal nature or how you behave. Using '성향' correctly will make your Korean sound much more natural and mature, especially when you are writing short essays or participating in group discussions about personal characteristics.

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At the B2 level, '성향' is a key vocabulary word for expressing nuanced views on psychology, sociology, and professional life. You should be able to use it fluently to describe complex human traits, such as 'risk-aversion disposition' (위험 회피 성향) or 'perfectionist disposition' (완벽주의적 성향). You should also be comfortable using it in formal writing, such as reports or academic essays, to categorize data or human behavior. At this level, you should understand how '성향' interacts with various verbs like '보이다' (to exhibit), '띠다' (to possess), and '반영하다' (to reflect). You should also be able to explain the difference between '성향' and related terms like '기질' (temperament) or '경향' (tendency). This word is essential for discussing topics like the impact of upbringing on one's disposition or how social media influences the political leanings of the youth. Your ability to use '성향' accurately demonstrates a high level of linguistic control and an understanding of the subtle layers of the Korean language.

At the C1 level, you are expected to use '성향' with high precision in specialized contexts. You should be able to discuss the 'ideological disposition' (이념적 성향) of different media outlets or the 'investment disposition' (투자 성향) of various market segments with ease. You will encounter this word in literature to describe the deep-seated motivations of characters or in philosophical texts to discuss the nature of the human soul. At this level, you should be aware of the Hanja roots (性向) and how they relate to other words like '천성' (innate nature) or '지향' (orientation/aim). You can use '성향' to create sophisticated arguments, such as analyzing how a person's 'dispositional traits' interact with environmental factors to produce specific social outcomes. Your usage should reflect an understanding of the word's formal register and its ability to synthesize complex psychological constructs into a single term. You should also be able to identify when '성향' is being used metaphorically or in subcultural contexts.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of '성향' should be indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You can use it to engage in deep academic discourse on topics like 'dispositional realism' or the 'sociological leanings' of historical eras. You should be able to pick up on the subtle connotations of the word in political rhetoric, where '성향' might be used to subtly categorize or even marginalize certain groups. You can use the word to describe not just individuals, but also the 'disposition' of entire institutions, artistic movements, or historical periods. Your command of the word includes knowing its rare collocations and its use in legal or high-level psychological reports. You can effortlessly switch between '성향,' '기질,' '성정,' and '심성' to convey the exact nuance of human character you intend. At this level, '성향' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for precise conceptual analysis and sophisticated expression in any professional or academic field.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

성향 en 30 secondes

성향 refers to a person's natural disposition, inclination, or tendency toward specific behaviors or beliefs.
It is commonly used in psychological, political, and professional contexts to describe a person's 'leanings.'
Unlike 'personality' (성격), it focuses on the direction of one's nature rather than their overall character.
Commonly paired with verbs like '있으다' (to have), '보이다' (to exhibit), or '띠다' (to possess).

The Korean word 성향 (seonghyang) is a sophisticated noun that translates most accurately to 'disposition,' 'inclination,' or 'tendency.' While basic Korean learners might initially rely on the word 성격 (seonggyeok) for 'personality,' 성향 provides a more nuanced way to describe the underlying direction of a person's nature or their inherent leanings toward certain behaviors, beliefs, or interests. It is composed of two Hanja characters: 성 (性), meaning 'nature' or 'essence,' and 향 (向), meaning 'direction' or 'towards.' Together, they literally describe the 'direction of one's nature.' This word is ubiquitous in professional, psychological, and social contexts in South Korea, often used to categorize people into groups based on their political views, consumer habits, or psychological profiles.

Psychological Context: In psychology, it refers to an individual's innate temperament or their predisposition to react to stimuli in a specific way. For example, one might have an introverted or extroverted disposition.
Political and Social Context: It is frequently used to describe political leanings, such as 'conservative inclination' (보수적 성향) or 'progressive inclination' (진보적 성향). It suggests a consistent pattern of thought rather than a one-time opinion.
Consumer Behavior: Marketers analyze 'consumption tendencies' (소비 성향) to understand if a demographic prefers luxury goods, eco-friendly products, or budget-friendly options.

사람마다 타고난 성향이 달라서 같은 상황에서도 반응이 제각각입니다. (Since everyone's innate disposition is different, their reactions to the same situation vary.)

Understanding 성향 is crucial for reaching the B2 level because it allows you to discuss abstract concepts and human behavior with precision. It moves beyond 'He is nice' to 'He has a cooperative disposition.' It is also a key term in the workplace when discussing team dynamics or leadership styles. Whether you are talking about an artist's creative style or a voter's preference, this word captures the essence of their 'leanings.' It is less about the surface-level action and more about the internal compass that guides those actions over time.

그녀는 예술가적인 성향이 강해서 창의적인 일을 좋아합니다. (She has a strong artistic inclination, so she likes creative work.)

Professional Usage: Used in performance reviews to describe a worker's 'work style' or 'disposition' toward teamwork versus independent tasks.

Using 성향 correctly involves pairing it with descriptive adjectives or nouns that define the type of inclination being discussed. The most common grammatical structure is [Noun/Adjective] + 성향. For example, if you want to say someone has a 'progressive' tendency, you use 진보적 성향. If they have a 'conservative' tendency, it is 보수적 성향. Unlike some other nouns, 성향 is frequently followed by verbs like 있다 (to have), 보이다 (to show), or 띠다 (to take on/possess).

그 아이는 내성적인 성향이 있어서 혼자 노는 것을 좋아해요. (That child has an introverted disposition, so they like playing alone.)

Common Verb Pairings: 1. 성향을 보이다: To exhibit a tendency. Often used in research or observation.
2. 성향을 띠다: To possess a certain disposition. More formal and literary.
3. 성향이 강하다: To have a strong inclination. Used when a trait is very prominent.

In more complex sentences, 성향 can act as the subject of the sentence to explain why certain phenomena occur. For instance, in an economic report, you might read: 'The consumption disposition of the 20s generation has changed significantly.' Here, 'consumption disposition' (소비 성향) explains the 'why' behind the market data. It is a powerful word for synthesizing complex human behaviors into a single, manageable concept. When describing someone's professional traits, you might say they have a 'perfectionist disposition' (완벽주의적 성향), which sounds much more professional than simply saying 'they are a perfectionist.'

최근 유권자들은 중도적인 성향을 보이는 것으로 나타났습니다. (It has been shown that recent voters are exhibiting a moderate inclination.)

투자자의 위험 회피 성향이 시장에 반영되었습니다. (The risk-aversion disposition of investors has been reflected in the market.)

Sentence Patterns: A는 B하는 성향이 있다 (A has a tendency to do B).
A의 성향상 B는 어렵다 (Given A's disposition, B is difficult).

You will encounter 성향 in a variety of real-world scenarios in Korea, ranging from casual conversations about personality tests to high-level political analysis on the news. One of the most common places today is in discussions about the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator), which is incredibly popular in South Korea. People often use 성향 to describe the traits associated with their MBTI type, such as 'I have an ENFP disposition' (저는 ENFP 성향이에요). This usage has normalized the word in daily life among younger generations.

기업들은 신입 사원을 뽑을 때 조직에 잘 융화될 수 있는 성향을 가진 사람을 선호합니다. (Companies prefer people with a disposition that can blend well into the organization when hiring new employees.)

In the media, 성향 is the standard term for describing political leanings. During election cycles, news anchors will constantly refer to 'unaffiliated voters' as having a 'swing disposition' or analyze the 'conservative disposition' of certain regions. It is also a staple in psychological counseling and self-help literature. If you watch Korean talk shows or variety shows where guests' personalities are analyzed (like 'Oh Eun-young's Golden Clinic'), you will hear the experts use this word to explain why a person behaves the way they do based on their innate temperament.

이 작가의 작품들은 전반적으로 염세적인 성향을 띠고 있습니다. (This author's works generally take on a pessimistic disposition.)

News & Media: Often used to categorize public opinion or the editorial direction of a newspaper (e.g., '진보 성향의 언론' - progressive-leaning media).

나와 성향이 잘 맞는 친구를 만나는 것은 큰 복입니다. (Meeting a friend whose disposition matches well with mine is a great blessing.)

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning Korean is using 성향 interchangeably with 성격 (seonggyeok - personality) or 취향 (chwihyang - taste). While they are related, they are not synonyms. 성격 refers to the broad, overall personality of a person (e.g., 'He is kind,' 'She is angry'). 성향, on the other hand, refers to a specific leaning or disposition toward something. You wouldn't say someone has a 'kind disposition' using 성향 as often as you would use 성격; however, you would say they have a 'cooperative disposition' (협력적 성향).

성향 vs. 취향: '취향' is about personal preference and likes/dislikes (e.g., music, food). '성향' is about innate nature and behavior patterns. You have a '취향' for jazz, but a '성향' for being impulsive.
성향 vs. 경향: '경향' (gyeonghyang) means 'trend' or 'tendency' in a more general or statistical sense. While '성향' is usually about people's nature, '경향' can be about prices rising or the weather changing.

Incorrect: 제 성향은 커피보다 차를 마시는 것입니다. (My disposition is drinking tea over coffee.)
Correct: 제 취향은 커피보다 차를 마시는 것입니다. (My taste is drinking tea over coffee.)

Another common error is using 성향 as a verb. Unlike 'tend to' in English, 성향 is strictly a noun. You cannot say 'He seonghyangs to be quiet.' You must use a supporting verb like 있다 (to have) or 보이다 (to show). Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse 성향 with 성질 (seongjil). 성질 often refers to the 'property' of an object or a person's 'temper.' If you say someone has a 'bad 성질,' you are saying they have a short fuse. If you say they have a 'bad 성향,' it sounds like they have a problematic ideological or behavioral leaning, which is much heavier.

Incorrect: 그는 성격적인 성향이 급해요. (His personality disposition is urgent.)
Correct: 그는 성격이 급해요. (He is impatient/has an urgent personality.)

While 성향 is a versatile word, there are several alternatives that might be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Understanding these nuances is what separates a B2 learner from a C1/C2 speaker. Let's look at some words that often appear alongside or instead of 성향.

기질 (Gijil) - Temperament: This refers to the biological, innate aspect of personality. It's what you're born with. While '성향' can be shaped by experience, '기질' is often seen as unchangeable. You might say a baby has a 'sensitive temperament' (예민한 기질).
경향 (Gyeonghyang) - Tendency/Trend: This is used for general patterns or statistical trends. While '성향' is personal, '경향' is often situational or societal. 'The tendency for prices to rise' would use '경향'.
취지 (Chwiji) - Intent/Purpose: Sometimes confused in professional settings. '취지' is the underlying purpose of a plan, whereas '성향' is the underlying nature of a person.
특성 (Teukseong) - Characteristic: A more general term for features or traits. It can apply to both people and objects. '성향' is a specific type of '특성' that deals with leanings.

개인의 성향과 사회적 경향은 서로 영향을 주고받습니다. (Individual dispositions and social tendencies influence each other.)

When choosing between these words, ask yourself: Am I talking about a person's inner compass (성향), their biological nature (기질), a statistical trend (경향), or a general trait (특성)? In most psychological or social discussions about an individual's leanings, 성향 remains the most professional and accurate choice. It carries a weight of seriousness that words like '취향' do not, making it ideal for academic essays or business reports.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The character 性 (성) also appears in '성별' (gender) and '성격' (personality), showing its link to identity.

Guide de prononciation

UK sʌŋ.hjaŋ

US sʌŋ.hjaŋ

In Korean, syllables generally have equal weight, but a slight emphasis may be felt on the first syllable.

Rime avec

영향 (influence) 방향 (direction) 경향 (tendency) 전향 (conversion) 동향 (trend) 상향 (upward) 하향 (downward) 취향 (taste)

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing '성' like 'song'.
Missing the 'y' sound in '향' and saying 'hang'.
Over-emphasizing the 'g' in 'ng'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 4/5

Common in news and books, requires understanding of Hanja-based nouns.

Écriture 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific verb collocations like '띠다'.

Expression orale 3/5

Used frequently in self-introductions and MBTI talks.

Écoute 3/5

Clearly pronounced, but context is key to distinguish from '취향'.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

성격 사람 다르다 좋아하다 생각

Apprends ensuite

경향 기질 지향 특성 가치관

Avancé

성정 심성 천성 성질 체질

Grammaire à connaître

-는 편이다

저는 조용한 성향인 편이에요.

-에 따라

성향에 따라 선택이 달라져요.

-기 마련이다

사람은 자신의 성향대로 행동하기 마련이다.

-기보다(는)

그는 말하기보다 듣는 성향이다.

-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다

성향이 다르니 싸울 수밖에 없다.

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Exemples par niveau

사람마다 성향이 달라요.

Everyone has a different disposition.

Simple noun + subject marker.

제 성향은 조용한 편이에요.

My disposition is on the quiet side.

Using -는 편이다 to describe a tendency.

친구의 성향을 알고 싶어요.

I want to know my friend's disposition.

Object marker used with 성향.

그녀는 밝은 성향이 있어요.

She has a bright disposition.

Adjective + noun structure.

성향이 비슷한 사람을 만나요.

Meet people with similar dispositions.

Using 비슷하다 (similar).

이것은 제 성향이 아니에요.

This is not my disposition (not my style).

Negative sentence with 아니에요.

우리 성향은 정말 달라요.

Our dispositions are really different.

Plural 'our' used with the noun.

성향이 중요해요.

Disposition is important.

Basic subject-predicate sentence.

저는 혼자 일하는 성향이 있어요.

I have a tendency to work alone.

Verb + -는 성향 structure.

그는 활동적인 성향을 가지고 있어요.

He has an active disposition.

Using '가지고 있다' (to possess).

성향에 맞는 직업을 찾으세요.

Find a job that fits your disposition.

-에 맞는 (fitting for).

아이들의 성향은 모두 제각각입니다.

Children's dispositions are all various.

Possessive marker -의.

제 성향상 외향적인 일은 힘들어요.

Due to my disposition, extroverted work is hard.

-상 (based on/due to).

그녀의 예술적 성향이 눈에 띕니다.

Her artistic disposition stands out.

눈에 띄다 (to stand out).

성향이 안 맞으면 같이 살기 힘들어요.

If dispositions don't match, it's hard to live together.

Conditional -면.

자신의 성향을 잘 아는 것이 중요합니다.

It is important to know your own disposition well.

Gerund form -는 것.

소비자의 성향을 분석하는 것이 마케팅의 기본입니다.

Analyzing consumer tendencies is the basis of marketing.

Noun phrase as a subject.

그는 보수적인 성향을 띠고 있습니다.

He takes on a conservative disposition.

띠고 있다 (to possess/take on).

개인주의적 성향이 강한 사람들은 독립적입니다.

People with strong individualistic tendencies are independent.

Adjective + 성향이 강하다.

자녀의 성향을 존중해 주는 부모가 되세요.

Be a parent who respects your child's disposition.

-어 주다 (do for someone).

팀원들의 성향을 파악해서 업무를 배분했습니다.

I distributed tasks after identifying the team members' dispositions.

-아서/-어서 (reason/sequence).

성향 차이로 인해 갈등이 생길 수 있습니다.

Conflicts can arise due to differences in disposition.

-로 인해 (due to).

그는 새로운 도전을 즐기는 성향입니다.

He is the type who enjoys new challenges.

Verb + -는 성향이다.

정치적 성향을 묻는 질문은 실례가 될 수 있습니다.

Asking about political leanings can be rude.

-는 것 (nominalizing a phrase).

투자 성향에 따라 포트폴리오를 구성해야 합니다.

You should construct your portfolio according to your investment disposition.

-에 따라 (according to).

그의 작품은 탐미주의적 성향이 짙게 나타납니다.

His works show a deep aesthetic disposition.

성향이 짙다 (strong/deep disposition).

사람들은 위기 상황에서 본래의 성향을 드러냅니다.

People reveal their true disposition in crisis situations.

드러내다 (to reveal).

그는 완벽주의 성향 때문에 스트레스를 많이 받아요.

He gets a lot of stress because of his perfectionist disposition.

-때문에 (because of).

사회적 성향이 강한 동물들은 무리 지어 삽니다.

Animals with strong social dispositions live in groups.

Compound adjective.

이 잡지는 진보적 성향의 독자층을 보유하고 있습니다.

This magazine has a progressive-leaning readership.

Noun + 성향의 + Noun.

성향이 극단적으로 다르면 타협하기 어렵습니다.

If dispositions are extremely different, it's hard to compromise.

Adverb + adjective.

그 후보는 중도 실용주의 성향을 강조했습니다.

The candidate emphasized a moderate pragmatist disposition.

Direct object of 'emphasized'.

유전적 요인이 개인의 성향 형성에 미치는 영향은 지대합니다.

The influence of genetic factors on the formation of an individual's disposition is profound.

Formal academic sentence structure.

그의 발언은 다분히 편향적인 성향을 내포하고 있습니다.

His remarks contain a significantly biased disposition.

내포하다 (to imply/contain).

현대인들은 파편화된 소비 성향을 보이는 경향이 있습니다.

Modern people tend to show fragmented consumption tendencies.

Combining 성향 and 경향.

작가는 인간의 폭력적 성향을 적나라하게 묘사했습니다.

The author vividly depicted the violent disposition of humans.

적나라하게 (vividly/nakedly).

문화적 배경에 따라 성향의 발현 방식이 달라질 수 있습니다.

The way a disposition manifests can vary depending on cultural background.

발현 (manifestation).

그는 권위주의적 성향을 타파하고자 노력했습니다.

He strove to break down authoritarian dispositions.

-고자 (in order to).

심리학적으로 성향은 환경과의 상호작용을 통해 변화하기도 합니다.

Psychologically, disposition also changes through interaction with the environment.

상호작용 (interaction).

이념적 성향의 차이가 사회적 갈등의 근본 원인이 되기도 합니다.

Differences in ideological disposition sometimes become the root cause of social conflict.

근본 원인 (root cause).

본질적인 성향은 유년기의 경험에 의해 공고해지는 경우가 많습니다.

Essential dispositions are often solidified by childhood experiences.

공고해지다 (to become solidified).

그의 철학은 허무주의적 성향과 실존주의적 성향이 기묘하게 혼재되어 있다.

His philosophy is a strange mixture of nihilistic and existentialist leanings.

혼재되어 있다 (to be mixed together).

사법부의 보수적 성향이 판결에 투영되었다는 비판이 제기되었습니다.

Criticism has been raised that the conservative disposition of the judiciary was projected onto the ruling.

투영되다 (to be projected).

인간의 이타적 성향은 진화론적 관점에서 재해석되고 있습니다.

Human altruistic disposition is being reinterpreted from an evolutionary perspective.

재해석 (reinterpretation).

그는 자신의 기회주의적 성향을 교묘하게 감추며 처세해 왔다.

He has conducted himself while craftily hiding his opportunistic disposition.

처세하다 (to conduct oneself in society).

집단적 성향이 개인의 창의성을 억압하는 결과를 초래할 수 있습니다.

Collective dispositions can lead to the suppression of individual creativity.

초래하다 (to cause/bring about).

예술가의 탐구적 성향은 장르의 경계를 허무는 동력이 됩니다.

An artist's investigative disposition becomes the driving force for breaking genre boundaries.

동력 (driving force).

시대적 성향을 거스르는 용기 있는 발언이 사회를 변화시킵니다.

Courageous remarks that go against the disposition of the times change society.

거스르다 (to go against).

Synonymes

기질 경향 특성 취향 태도

Antonymes

보편성 일관성

Collocations courantes

성향을 보이다

성향을 띠다

성향이 강하다

성향이 짙다

정치적 성향

소비 성향

투자 성향

성향 파악

성향 차이

개인적 성향

Phrases Courantes

성향에 맞다

— To suit one's disposition.

이 일은 제 성향에 잘 맞아요.

성향을 드러내다

— To reveal one's disposition.

그는 드디어 본래의 성향을 드러냈다.

성향을 바꾸다

— To change one's disposition (difficult but used).

사람의 성향을 바꾸기는 쉽지 않다.

성향이 비슷하다

— To have similar dispositions.

우리는 성향이 비슷해서 잘 통해요.

성향이 뚜렷하다

— To have a distinct disposition.

그는 자기 성향이 뚜렷한 사람이다.

성향을 반영하다

— To reflect one's disposition.

이 방은 주인의 성향을 잘 반영한다.

성향을 숨기다

— To hide one's disposition.

그는 자신의 성향을 철저히 숨겼다.

성향이 극명하다

— To have contrasting dispositions.

두 후보의 성향은 극명하게 갈린다.

성향을 존중하다

— To respect someone's disposition.

서로의 성향을 존중하는 것이 중요하다.

성향을 파악하다

— To identify or figure out a disposition.

상대의 성향을 파악하는 것이 협상의 기술이다.

Souvent confondu avec

성향 vs 취향

Taste/Preference (e.g., coffee, music). Seonghyang is disposition.

성향 vs 성격

Overall personality. Seonghyang is a specific leaning.

성향 vs 경향

General trend/tendency. Seonghyang is more personal/innate.

Expressions idiomatiques

"피는 못 속인다"

— One cannot hide their blood (innate nature/disposition).

아들의 예술적 성향을 보니 피는 못 속인다 싶다.

Informal

"제 버릇 개 못 준다"

— A dog cannot give away its habit (dispositions are hard to change).

그의 공격적인 성향을 보니 제 버릇 개 못 준다더니 정말이다.

Informal/Negative

"끼리끼리 논다"

— Birds of a feather flock together (people with similar dispositions hang out).

성향이 비슷한 사람들끼리 모이는 걸 보니 끼리끼리 논다.

Informal

"가랑비에 옷 젖는 줄 모른다"

— Not realizing one's clothes are getting wet in a drizzle (small tendencies adding up).

작은 성향이 모여 큰 성격을 형성한다.

Neutral

"천성은 변하지 않는다"

— One's innate nature (disposition) does not change.

그의 보수적인 성향은 천성이라 변하지 않는다.

Formal

"물과 기름"

— Like water and oil (dispositions that don't mix).

두 사람의 성향은 물과 기름처럼 섞이지 않는다.

Neutral

"하나를 보면 열을 안다"

— If you see one, you know ten (a small action reveals one's disposition).

그의 작은 행동 하나에서 그의 성향을 알 수 있다.

Neutral

"팔은 안으로 굽는다"

— The arm bends inward (natural disposition to favor those close to you).

자신의 성향과 맞는 사람을 편드는 것은 당연하다.

Neutral

"세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다"

— Habits formed at three last until eighty (early dispositions persist).

어릴 때의 성향이 어른이 되어서도 이어진다.

Neutral

"개천에서 용 난다"

— A dragon rises from a stream (overcoming one's environment through strong disposition/will).

어려운 환경에서도 성공하려는 성향이 강했다.

Neutral

Facile à confondre

성향 vs 기질

Both mean temperament.

Gijil is more biological/inborn; Seonghyang can be social/ideological.

타고난 기질 vs. 정치적 성향

성향 vs 성질

Both start with 'Seong'.

Seongjil is 'property' or 'temper'; Seonghyang is 'disposition'.

성질이 고약하다 vs. 보수적 성향

성향 vs 지향

Both involve 'direction'.

Jihyang is a conscious goal or orientation; Seonghyang is a natural leaning.

미래 지향 vs. 개인적 성향

성향 vs 성품

Both describe character.

Seongpum is moral character (virtue); Seonghyang is behavioral/ideological leaning.

훌륭한 성품 vs. 독특한 성향

성향 vs 특성

Both are traits.

Teukseong is any characteristic; Seonghyang is specifically an inclination.

제품의 특성 vs. 사람의 성향

Structures de phrases

N은/는 [Adj]-ㄴ 성향이 있다

그는 내성적인 성향이 있다.

N의 성향을 파악하다

상대방의 성향을 파악하는 것이 중요하다.

성향에 맞게 V

성향에 맞게 직업을 골라야 한다.

성향을 띠고 있다

이 영화는 비판적 성향을 띠고 있다.

성향이 짙다

그의 글은 허무주의적 성향이 짙다.

성향의 발현

환경에 따른 성향의 발현 양상이 다르다.

성향을 내포하다

그의 말은 공격적 성향을 내포하고 있다.

성향을 투영하다

작가는 자신의 성향을 작품에 투영했다.

Famille de mots

Noms

성격 (personality)

성질 (nature)

성품 (character)

심성 (mindset)

Verbes

성향하다 (rarely used as a standalone verb)

Adjectifs

성향적인 (dispositional)

Apparenté

성질

기질

취향

경향

지향

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

High in media, professional, and psychological contexts.

Erreurs courantes

Using '성향' for food preferences. → 취향 (Taste)
You don't have a 'disposition' for pizza; you have a 'taste' for it.
Saying '성향해요' as a verb. → 성향이 있다 / 성향을 보이다
'성향' is a noun and cannot be turned into a -하다 verb directly.
Confusing '성향' with '성격' in every case. → Use '성향' for leanings, '성격' for character.
While similar, '성향' is more about the direction of behavior.
Pronouncing '향' as '항'. → Hyang (with a 'y' sound)
Missing the 'y' sound changes the word completely.
Using '성향' to describe the 'nature' of an object. → 성질 (Property)
'성향' is primarily for people or human groups.

Astuces

Use it in Job Interviews

When asked about your strengths, use '성향' to describe your work ethic. For example, '저는 계획적인 성향이라 마감 기한을 잘 지킵니다' (I have a planning disposition, so I keep deadlines well).

Differentiate from 취향

Remember: Food/Movies = 취향. Politics/Personality/Behavior = 성향.

Adjective Forms

Always use the -ㄴ/은/는 form of adjectives before '성향'. (e.g., 보수적인 성향, 독립적인 성향).

MBTI Context

If someone asks for your MBTI, you can respond with '저는 [Type] 성향이에요' to sound very natural.

Formal Reports

In business reports, use '소비 성향' to describe how customers spend money.

Softening Opinions

Using '성향이 있다' can soften a statement. Instead of 'He is aggressive,' say 'He has an aggressive disposition' (공격적인 성향이 있어요).

News Keywords

When you hear '성향' on the news, pay attention to the word before it to know if they are talking about politics, the economy, or social trends.

Hanja Link

Link 성 (Nature) to 성격 (Personality) to remember the 'nature' part of the word.

Matching with Others

Use '성향이 잘 맞다' as a high-level way to say you get along with someone.

Nuance of 띠다

Master the verb '띠다' to describe something taking on a certain disposition (e.g., '비판적 성향을 띠다').

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'SUNG' (성) like 'Song' and 'HYANG' (향) like 'Hang'. Every person has a unique 'Song' they 'Hang' onto—their disposition.

Association visuelle

Imagine a compass needle (향) pointing toward a heart (성). The direction the needle points is the 성향.

Word Web

Personality Direction Inclination Nature MBTI Politics Consumer Taste

Défi

Try to describe your MBTI type using the word '성향' in three different sentences today.

Origine du mot

Derived from Hanja: 性 (성) meaning 'nature, character' and 向 (향) meaning 'direction, tendency'.

Sens originel : The direction in which one's nature leans.

Sino-Korean

Contexte culturel

Be careful when discussing '정치적 성향' (political leanings) or '성적 성향' (sexual orientation) as these can be private or sensitive topics.

Similar to 'disposition' or 'leanings' but used more frequently in casual conversation in Korea than in the West.

MBTI personality tests in Korea Oh Eun-young's psychological clinic shows Political exit polls

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Job Interview

제 업무 성향은...
협력적인 성향입니다
리더 성향이 있습니다
성향에 맞는 직무

Political Discussion

진보적 성향
보수적 성향
중도 성향
정치적 성향의 차이

Marketing/Business

소비 성향 분석
투자 성향 파악
고객의 성향
시장 성향

Psychology/Counseling

내성적인 성향
외향적인 성향
성향 테스트
타고난 성향

Relationships

성향이 잘 맞다
성향 차이로 이별
비슷한 성향
서로의 성향 존중

Amorces de conversation

"본인의 MBTI 성향이 실제 성격과 잘 맞는다고 생각하세요?"

"친구를 사귈 때 자신과 성향이 비슷한 사람을 선호하시나요?"

"업무를 할 때 팀으로 일하는 성향인가요, 아니면 혼자 일하는 성향인가요?"

"부모님과 본인의 성향 중에서 가장 닮은 점은 무엇인가요?"

"새로운 장소에 갔을 때 바로 적응하는 성향이신가요?"

Sujets d'écriture

나의 가장 두드러진 성향 세 가지를 적고, 그 성향이 내 삶에 어떤 영향을 주는지 설명해 보세요.

성향이 전혀 다른 사람과 함께 일하거나 지냈던 경험에 대해 써 보세요.

내가 바꾸고 싶은 나의 성향이 있다면 무엇인지, 그리고 그 이유는 무엇인지 적어 보세요.

사회적으로 성공하기 위해 꼭 필요한 성향은 무엇이라고 생각하시나요?

나의 소비 성향을 돌아보고, 불필요한 지출을 줄일 수 있는 방법을 계획해 보세요.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, you can use it to describe the behavioral tendencies of animals, especially in scientific or observational contexts. For example, '고양이는 독립적인 성향이 있다' (Cats have an independent disposition).

No, '성향' is a neutral word. It can be used for positive traits (협력적 성향 - cooperative), neutral ones (내성적 성향 - introverted), or negative ones (공격적 성향 - aggressive).

MBTI is a specific test that categorizes your '성향'. So you would say, '제 MBTI 성향은 INFJ예요' (My MBTI disposition is INFJ).

It sounds a bit unnatural. Usually, you would say '그 사람의 성향이 마음에 들다' (I like that person's disposition) or '성향이 잘 맞다' (Dispositions match well).

You say '정치적 성향' (jeong-chi-jeok seong-hyang).

Generally, no. For objects, use '성질' (property) or '특징' (feature). '성향' implies a psychological or behavioral element usually found in living beings or human-led institutions.

Extensively. It's used to analyze '소비 성향' (consumption patterns) and '투자 성향' (investment styles).

For formal writing, '띠다' is best. For daily speech, '있다' or '이다' is most common.

Yes, it frequently appears in TOPIK II (Intermediate/Advanced) reading and listening sections, especially in psychology or social issue passages.

You can say '모험적인 성향이 있는 사람' (A person with an adventurous disposition) or '위험 감수 성향이 강한 사람'.

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