How to say "behaviour" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 行動こうどうsuru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveBehaviour as action or conduct — what a person actually does. The most general of these words, covering both everyday activity and how someone conducts themselves.
- 態度たいどnounBehaviour as one's manner or bearing toward others — the attitude someone displays. Use it when 'behaviour' means how a person comes across, such as being rude, cold, or friendly, rather than what they do.
- 挙動きょどうnounConduct or behaviour as observed by others — how a person moves, acts, and carries themselves. Narrower than behaviour in general: it describes outward conduct and bearing, not attitude or manners.
- 振る舞いふるまいnounThe way a person behaves or conducts themselves — one's manner of acting. Fits 'behaviour' when you mean how someone acts toward people, whether well or badly.
- 行儀ぎょうぎnounBehaviour in the sense of manners or propriety — whether someone is behaving properly, especially a child. It is not a general word for behaviour; it is behaviour as judged by standards of good manners.
Use 行動 for behaviour as what someone does, 態度 for manner or attitude shown toward others, 挙動 for outward conduct as observed by others, 「振る舞い」 for the way a person behaves, and 行儀 for behaviour judged by good manners.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 行動こうどうaction
- 態度たいどattitude
- 挙動きょどうconduct
- 振る舞いふるまいbehavior
- 行儀ぎょうぎmanners
- 素行そこうbehaviour
- 仕打ちしうち(poor) treatment
- 所作しょさconduct
- 行状ぎょうじょうbehavior
- 言動げんどうspeech and conduct
- 仕草しぐさgesture
- 立ち居振る舞いたちいふるまいmovements
- 素振りそぶりbehavior
- ビヘイビアbehaviour
- 挙きょaction
- 品行ひんこう(moral) conduct
- 身持ちみもちconduct
- 挙措きょそbehavior
- 容儀ようぎbehavior
- 行跡ぎょうせきbehavior
- お行儀おぎょうぎmanners
- 立ち振る舞いたちふるまいmovements
- ふりappearance
- 風かぜmanner
- 動作どうさbearing
- 真似まねbehavior
- 行いおこないconduct
- 習性しゅうせいbehavior
- 進退しんたいcourse of action
- 様子ようすappearance
- 形かたちbehaviour (towards others)
See also
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