How to say "character" in Japanese

• 文字もじJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'character' as a unit of writing — a letter of an alphabet or any written symbol. Use it when counting or discussing the characters in a text.
  へー、キーボード見みないで文字もじ打うてるんだ。スゴイわねー。↗

  Oh? You can type without looking at the keyboard. That's cool!
• キャラクターCommon
  nounA loanword used for characters in fiction, manga, games, and anime; it can also describe a person's personality or disposition.
• 字じJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounCovers 'character' in the sense of a written character, especially kanji, and by extension handwriting or written text; use it when talking about how someone writes.
• 性格せいかくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'character' of a person: their personality, disposition, or nature. Use it when describing what kind of person someone is.
  あいつもアバウトな性格せいかくだよな。↗

  He's not a very meticulous guy.
• 人物じんぶつJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers 'character' as a person or personage — a historical figure, or a character in a story — referring to the person themselves rather than their personality.
  あの人ひとはどんな人物じんぶつか教おしえて下ください？↗

  Tell me what that man is like.

Use 文字 or 字 for characters as units of writing, 性格 for a person's character or personality, 「キャラクター」 for fictional characters and also a person's disposition, and 人物 for persons, figures, or story characters.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 文字もじletter (of an alphabet)
• キャラクターcharacter
• 字じcharacter (esp. kanji)
• 性格せいかくcharacter (of a person)
• 人物じんぶつperson
• 人格じんかくpersonality
• 人柄ひとがらpersonality
• 品性ひんせいcharacter
• 気風きふうcharacter
• 登場人物とうじょうじんぶつcharacter (in a play, novel, film, etc.)
• 変わり者かわりものeccentric
• 性根しょうねnature
• 個性こせいindividuality
• 性質せいしつnature (of a person)
• 気質きしつdisposition
• 性向せいこうinclination
• 得体えたいnature
• きっぷcharacter
• 作中人物さくちゅうじんぶつcharacter (in a novel, film, etc.)
• 人品じんぴんpersonal appearance
• 禀性ひんせいnature
• 人格的じんかくてきin terms of one's personality
• 性しょうnature
• キャラ(fictional) character
• 形質けいしつ(phenotypic) trait
• 一字いちじ(one) letter
• 人間にんげんcharacter (of a person)
• カラーcolor
• 人気にんきcondition (e.g. market)
• 役やくpart (in a play, film, etc.)
• 質しつnature
• 柄がらessential qualities
• 体質たいしつcharacter (of a group, organization, etc.)
• 根性こんじょうcharacter
• 身元みもと(one's) character
• 素質そしつnature
• 文もんletter
• たちnature (of something)
• 資しcharacter
• 天機てんきdisposition
• モールドfigure
• ひとcharacter
• 色いろpersonality
• 肌はだdisposition
• 玉たまperson (when commenting on their nature)