Survival Chinese – 30 Words to Describe Personalities

Introduction:

Dàjiā hǎo, huānyíng lái dào Mandarin Corner, wǒ shì Eileen.
大家好，欢迎来到Mandarin Corner，我是Eileen。
Hello, everyone! Welcome to Mandarin Corner, I am Eileen.

Jīntiān wǒmen yào xué de shì sānshí gè yòng lái miáoshù xìnggé de cíhuì.
今天我们要学的是三十个用来描述性格的词汇。
Today we are going to learn 30 words that can be used to describe personalities.

Měigè rén de xìnggé dōu bù yīyàng,
每个人的性格都不一样，
Every one has different personality,

wǒ xīwàng nǐmen guānkàn wán zhège shìpín hòu,
我希望你们观看完这个视频后，
I hope after watching this video,

yě néng yòng zhōngwén lái miáoshù nǐ zìjǐ huò biéren de xìnggé.
也能用中文来描述你自己或别人的性格。
you can also describe other people’s or your personality in Chinese.

Zhège shìpín de PDF hé yīnpín wénjiàn kě zài mandarincorner.org
这个视频的PDF和音频文件可在mandarincorner.org
This video’s PDF and audio file can be downloaded at mandarincorner.org’s

de “video learning resources” yèmiàn miǎnfèi xiàzǎi.
的“video learning resources” 页面免费下载。
“video learning resources” page. They are free!

Hǎo, nà jiē xiàlái wǒmen jiù yīqǐ lái kànkan jīntiān yào xué de nèiróng ba.
好，那接下来我们就一起来看看今天要学的内容吧。
Alright, now let’s take a look at today’s lesson!

Lesson

1.
wàixiàng
外向
extroverted

Wǒ dìdi cóngxiǎo xìnggé wàixiàng.
我弟弟从小性格外向。
My younger brother has been an extrovert since childhood.

我 wǒ my
弟弟 dìdi younger brother
从小 cóngxiǎo from childhood
性格 xìnggé character
外向 wàixiàng extroverted (personality)

2.
nèixiàng
内向
introverted

Tā tiānshēng xìnggé nèixiàng, xǐhuan yīgèrén dāizhe.
他天生性格内向，喜欢一个人待着。
He is an introvert and likes to stay alone.

他 tā he or him
天生 tiānshēng nature
性格 xìnggé character
内向 nèixiàng introverted
喜欢 xǐhuan to like
一个人 yīgèrén alone (without company)
待 dāi to stay
着 zhe aspect particle indicating action in progress

3.
yǒnggǎn
勇敢
brave, courageous

Zhège xiǎo nǚhái zhēn yǒnggǎn, dǎzhēn de shíhou yīxià dōu méiyǒu kū.
这个小女孩真勇敢，打针的时候一下都没有哭。
This girl is very brave and she didn’t even cry when getting an injection.

这个 zhège this
小 xiǎo young
女孩 nǚhái girl
真 zhēn really
勇敢 yǒnggǎn brave / courageous
打针 dǎzhēn to give or have an injection
的 de used after an attribute
时候 shíhou time (when)
一下 yīxià once
都 dōu (used for emphasis) even
没有 méiyǒu hasn’t
哭 kū to cry

4.
dǎnxiǎo
胆小
coward

Tā hěn dǎnxiǎo, bù gǎn kàn kǒngbùpiàn.
她很胆小，不敢看恐怖片。
She is such a coward that she doesn’t even dare to watch horror movies.

她 tā she
很 hěn very
胆小 dǎnxiǎo coward
不 bù not
敢 gǎn to dare
看 kàn to watch
恐怖片 kǒngbùpiàn horror movie

5.
chéngshú
成熟
mature

Yī chuānshang gāogēnxié, tā xiǎnde chéngshú duō le.
一穿上高跟鞋，她显得成熟多了。
She appeared to be much more mature the moment she put on her high-heeled shoes.

一 yī as soon as
穿上 chuānshang to put on (clothes, etc.)
高跟鞋 gāogēnxié high-heeled shoes
她 tā she
显得 xiǎnde to appear
成熟 chéngshú mature
多 duō more
了 le used to indicate changes of states

6.
yòuzhì
幼稚
childish, naive

Nǐ tài yòuzhì le! Shuí de huà dōu xiāngxìn!
你太幼稚了！谁的话都相信！
You are so naive! You believe anybody!

你 nǐ you
太 tài very
幼稚 yòuzhì childish, naive
了 le used to form a 太/tài…了/le sentence pattern
谁 shuí who
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
话 huà talk / words
都 dōu all
相信 xiāngxìn to believe

7.
hàixiū
害羞
shy

Hé jiějie xiāngbǐ, tā bǐjiào hàixiū.
和姐姐相比，她比较害羞。
She is shy compared with her sister.

和 hé with
姐姐 jiějie older sister
相比 xiāngbǐ to compare
她 tā she
比较 bǐjiào relatively
害羞 hàixiū shy

8.
jiàntán
健谈
talkative (in a positive way- a good talker)

Wǒ cóngméi jiàn guò xiàng tā zhème jiàntán de rén.
我从没见过像他这么健谈的人。
I have never met such a good talker!

我 wǒ I
从没 cóngméi never (in the past)
见 jiàn to see / to meet
过 guò experienced action marker
像 xiàng to be like
他 tā he or him
这么 zhème so much
健谈 jiàntán talkative (in a positive way- a good talker)
的 de used after an attribute
人 rén person

9.
shànliáng
善良
kindhearted

Tā shuōhuà suīrán nántīng, nèixīn què hěn shànliáng.
他说话虽然难听，内心却很善良。
His remarks are rude, but he is kind at heart.

他 tā he or him
说话 shuōhuà to talk
虽然 suīrán even though
难听 nántīng unpleasant to hear
内心 nèixīn heart
却 què yet
很 hěn very
善良 shànliáng kindhearted

10.
huópō
活泼
lively

Zài wǒ yǎn lǐ tā shì gè hěn huópō de nǚhái.
在我眼里她是个很活泼的女孩。
To me, she feels like a very lively girl.

在 zài (to be) in
我 wǒ my
眼 yǎn eye
里 lǐ inside
她 tā she
是 shì is
个 gè classifier for people
很 hěn very
活泼 huópō lively
的 de used after an attribute
女孩 nǚhái girl

11.
yōumò
幽默
humourous

Wǒ de lǎoshī hěn yōumò, zǒngshì bǎ xuésheng dòuxiào.
我的老师很幽默，总是把学生逗笑。
My teacher is very humourous and he is always making students laugh.

我 wǒ my
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
老师 lǎoshī teacher
很 hěn very
幽默 yōumò humorous
总是 zǒngshì always
把 bǎ particle marking the following noun as a direct object
学生 xuésheng student
逗笑 dòuxiào to amuse / to cause to smile

12.
yánsù
严肃
Serious (in character and appearance)

Tā zhè rén tài yánsù le, shuí jiàn le tā dōu hàipà.
他这人太严肃了，谁见了他都害怕。
He looks so serious that everyone fears him.

他 tā he or him
这 zhè this
人 rén person
太 tài very
严肃 yánsù solemn / serious
了 le used to form a 太/tài…了/le sentence pattern
谁 shuí who
见 jiàn to see
了 le modal particle intensifying preceding clause
他 tā he or him
都 dōu all
害怕 hàipà to be scared

13.
qínkuài
勤快
hardworking, diligent

Tā shì gè qínkuài de xiǎohuǒzi, dàjiā dōu hěn xǐhuan tā.
他是个勤快的小伙子，大家都很喜欢他。
He is a hardworking young man and everybody likes him.

他 tā he or him
是 shì is
个 gè classifier for people
勤快 qínkuài diligent / hardworking
的 de used after an attribute
小伙子 xiǎohuǒzi young man
大家 dàjiā everyone
都 dōu all
很 hěn very
喜欢 xǐhuan to like
他 tā he or him

14.
lǎnduò
懒惰
lazy

Nǐ shuō tā lǎnduò, zhēnshi yīdiǎn yě bùcuò.
你说他懒惰，真是一点也不错。
You’re right when you said that he was lazy!

你 nǐ you
说 shuō to say
他 tā he or him
懒惰 lǎnduò lazy
真是 zhēnshi indeed / truly
一点 yīdiǎn a bit
也 yě also
不错 bùcuò right

15.
làngmàn
浪漫
romantic

Tā hěn kāixīn yǒu zhème yī gè làngmàn de nánpéngyou.
她很开心有这么一个浪漫的男朋友。
She is very happy that she has such a romantic boyfriend.

她 tā she
很 hěn very
开心 kāixīn to feel happy
有 yǒu to have
这么 zhème so much
一 yī one
个 gè classifier for people
浪漫 làngmàn romantic
的 de used after an attribute
男朋友 nánpéngyou boyfriend

16.
gùzhí
固执
obstinate, stubborn

Tā tài gùzhí le, shuí de yìjiàn yě tīngbùjìnqu.
她太固执了，谁的意见也听不进去。
She is so stubborn that she doesn’t want to listen to anybody.

她 tā she
太 tài very
固执 gùzhí obstinate / stubborn
了 le used to form a 太/tài…了/le sentence pattern
谁 shuí who
的 de of
意见 yìjiàn suggestion
也 yě also
听不进去 tīngbùjìnqu not to listen / to be deaf to

17.
chōngdòng
冲动
impulsive, impulse

Tā yīshí chōngdòng mǎi le zhè liàng chē.
他一时冲动买了这辆车。
He bought his car on impulse.

他 tā he or him
一时 yīshí temporary / momentary
冲动 chōngdòng impulsive, impulse
买 mǎi to buy
了 le completed action marker
这 zhè this
辆 liàng classifier for vehicles
车 chē car

18.
lèguān
乐观
optimistic

Wúlùn fāshēng shénme shì, tā zǒngshì nàme lèguān.
无论发生什么事，他总是那么乐观。
No matter what happens, he always has an optimistic outlook.

无论 wúlùn no matter what or how
发生 fāshēng to happen
什么 shénme what
事 shì thing
他 tā he or him
总是 zǒngshì always
那么 nàme so
乐观 lèguān optimistic

19.
bēiguān
悲观
pessimistic

Bùyào zhème bēiguān, yào kàn dào shìqing jījí de yīmiàn.
不要这么悲观，要看到事情积极的一面。
Don’t be so pessimistic. Try to look at the bright side.

不要 bùyào don’t!
这么 zhème so much
悲观 bēiguān pessimistic
要 yào must
看 kàn to look at
到 dào verb complement denoting completion or result of an action
事情 shìqing thing
积极 jījí positive (outlook)
的 de used after an attribute
一面 yīmiàn one side

20.
tǐtiē
体贴
considerate (of other people’s needs)

Tā duì tā de zhàngfu hěn tǐtiē.
她对她的丈夫很体贴。
She is very considerate towards her husband.

她 tā she
对 duì towards
她 tā she
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
丈夫 zhàngfu husband
很 hěn very
体贴 tǐtiē considerate (of other people’s needs)

21.
xūwěi
虚伪
hypocritical

Tā zhège rén hěn xūwěi, bùzhídé xìnrèn.
他这个人很虚伪，不值得信任。
He is a hypocrite and should not be trusted.

他 tā he or him
这个 zhège this
人 rén person
很 hěn very
虚伪 xūwěi hypocritical
不值得 bùzhídé unworthy
信任 xìnrèn to trust

22.
bàozào
暴躁
irritable by nature, short-tempered

Bié rě tā, tā de píqi hěn bàozào.
别惹他，他的脾气很暴躁。
Don’t mess with him, he’s got a bad temper.

别 bié do not
惹 rě to provoke / to irritate
他 tā he or him
他 tā he or him
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
脾气 píqi temperament
很 hěn very
暴躁 bàozào irritable / violent

23.
yǒushàn
友善
friendly

Tā wàixiàng ér yǒushàn, gēn rén xiāngchǔ de hěn hǎo.
他外向而友善，跟人相处得很好。
He is outgoing and friendly, and gets along well with people.

他 tā he or him
外向 wàixiàng extroverted (personality)
而 ér and
友善 yǒushàn friendly
跟 gēn with
人 rén people
相处 xiāngchǔ to get along (with one another)
得 de linking a verb or an adjective to a coplement which describes the manner or degree
很 hěn very
好 hǎo well

24.
dàfang
大方
generous

Tā hěn dàfang, zǒngshì qǐng péngyou hējiǔ.
他很大方，总是请朋友喝酒。
He is very generous and always pays for his friends’ drinks.

他 tā he or him
很 hěn very
大方 dàfang generous
总是 zǒngshì always
请 qǐng to treat (to a meal, etc.)
朋友 péngyou friend
喝酒 hējiǔ to drink (alcohol)

25.
xiǎoqì
小气
stingy

Tā hěn xiǎoqì, shěbude huāqián.
他很小气，舍不得花钱。
He is very stingy and can’t bear to spend money.

他 tā he or him
很 hěn very
小气 xiǎoqì stingy
舍不得 shěbude to hate to do sth
花钱 huāqián to spend money

26.
qiānxū
谦虚
modest

Tā hěn qiānxū, cóngláibù xuànyào tā de chénggōng.
他很谦虚，从来不炫耀他的成功。
He is very modest and never shows off his success.

他 tā he or him
很 hěn very
谦虚 qiānxū modest
从来不 cóngláibù never
炫耀 xuànyào to show off
他 tā he or him
的 de ~’s (possessive particle)
成功 chénggōng success

27.
zìsī
自私
selfish

Tā fēicháng zìsī, zǒngshì zhǐ guānxīn zìjǐ.
他非常自私，总是只关心自己。
He is very selfish. He only cares about himself.

他 tā he or him
非常 fēicháng very
自私 zìsī selfish
总是 zǒngshì always
只 zhǐ only
关心 guānxīn to be concerned about / to care about
自己 zìjǐ oneself

28.
rèqíng
热情
warm-hearted

Tā duì rén rèqíng chéngkěn, dàjiā dōu yuànyì gēn tā zuò péngyou.
他对人热情诚恳，大家都愿意跟他做朋友。
He is warm-hearted and sincere. Everyone wants to be his friend.

他 tā he or him
对 duì towards
人 rén people
热情 rèqíng warm-hearted
诚恳 chéngkěn sincere
大家 dàjiā everyone
都 dōu all
愿意 yuànyì to want
跟 gēn with
他 tā he or him
做 zuò to make
朋友 péngyou friend

29.
jiānqiáng
坚强
strong

Tā yīxiàng shì gè jiānqiáng de rén, rènhé kùnnan dōu dǎbudǎo tā.
她一向是个坚强的人，任何困难都打不倒她。
She has always been a strong person and will not be defeated by any difficulties.

她 tā she
一向 yīxiàng always (previously)
是 shì is
个 gè classifier for people
坚强 jiānqiáng strong
的 de used after an attribute
人 rén person
任何 rènhé any
困难 kùnnan difficult situation
都 dōu all
打不倒 dǎbudǎo be unconquerable
她 tā she

30.
tānxīn
贪心
greedy

Zhège tānxīn de nánhái yīgèrén bǎ bīngqílín quán chī le.
这个贪心的男孩一个人把冰淇淋全吃了。
The greedy boy ate all the ice-cream himself.

这个 zhège this
贪心 tānxīn greedy
的 de used after an attribute
男孩 nánhái boy
一个人 yīgèrén by oneself (without assistance)
把 bǎ particle marking the following noun as a direct object
冰淇淋 bīngqílín ice cream
全 quán all
吃 chī to eat
了 le completed action marker

Conclusion:
Hǎo le, jīntiān de kèchéng jiù dào cǐ wéizhǐ!
好了，今天的课程就到此为止！
Okay! That’s it for today!

Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuan zhège shìpín,
如果你喜欢这个视频，
If you like this video,

nà jiù qǐng gěi tā diǎn gè zàn, bìng yǔ nǐ de péngyou men fēnxiǎng.
那就请给它点个赞，并与你的朋友们分享。
please give it a “like”and share it with your friends.

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If you like our videos and the resources on our website,

bìng xiǎng bāngzhù wǒmen jìxù tígōng zhè lèi shìpín,
并想帮助我们继续提供这类视频，
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nàme qǐng kǎolǜ zài Patreon shàng zhīchí wǒmen
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Links for both are on our website.

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wǒmen xià cì jiàn!
我们下次见!
I will see you next time!

• Video – Survival Chinese – 30 Words To Describe Personalities With Sentence Examples

• Audio – 30 Words to Describe Personalities With Sentence Examples

• PDF – 30 Words to Describe Personalities With Sentence Examples

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