How to say "nature" in Japanese

• 性せいJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA person's inherent nature or essence — what someone is at the core. It is an abstract, compact word that you will mostly meet inside larger words rather than standing alone.
  習ならい性せいとなる。↗

  Habit is second nature.
• 自然しぜんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe natural world — forests, rivers, animals, the environment — as opposed to towns and things made by people. When 'nature' means the outdoors or the physical world rather than personality, this is the word.
  われわれは自然しぜんの法則ほうそくに従したがう。↗

  We are subject to the laws of nature.
• 天然てんねんJLPT N3approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'nature' only loosely: in practice it works like English 'natural', describing things as they occur without human processing, or an unaffected, spontaneous streak in a person. For nature itself, use 自然.
  この車くるまは天然てんねんガスで動うごく。↗

  This car runs on natural gas.
• 性質せいしつJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounA person's nature as disposition or temperament: whether someone is easygoing, stubborn, quick to anger. When 'nature' means someone's character as shown in everyday behavior, this is the word to reach for.
  彼かれは性質せいしつが頑固がんこだ。↗

  He is obstinate in disposition.
• 資質ししつCommon
  nounThe qualities a person is naturally endowed with, often assessed as aptitude — whether someone has the makeup for a job or role. It points to innate endowments rather than habitual temperament.
  彼かれは指導者しどうしゃの資質ししつを全すべて持もっていた。↗

  He had all the attributes of a leader.

Use 自然 for nature as the natural world; for a person's nature, 性質 covers everyday character and temperament, 資質 innate qualities or aptitude, and 性 the abstract inborn essence, while 天然 chiefly means 'natural, unprocessed'.

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

• 性せいnature (of a person)
• 自然しぜんnature
• 天然てんねんnature
• 性質せいしつnature (of a person)
• 資質ししつnature
• ネイチャーnature
• 気質きしつdisposition
• 性分しょうぶんnature
• 性根しょうねnature
• 天性てんせいnature
• 自然界しぜんかいnature
• 大自然だいしぜんnature
• 性向せいこうinclination
• 風雲ふううんwinds and clouds
• 心性しんせいmind
• 性格せいかくcharacter (of a person)
• 天地てんちheaven and earth
• 気性きしょうdisposition
• たちnature (of a person)
• 得体えたいnature
• 心術しんじゅつnature
• 性情せいじょうnature
• 天資てんしnature
• 禀性ひんせいnature
• 賦性ふせいnature
• 山川草木さんせんそうもくnature
• 性しょうnature
• ネイチャーNature (journal)
• 人となりひととなりhereditary disposition
• 気立てきだてdisposition
• 造化ぞうかcreation
• 天生てんせいnaturally occurring
• 如何いかん(depending on) how
• 天成てんせい(product of) nature
• 気きnature
• 心しんbottom of one's heart
• 質しつnature
• 柄がらessential qualities
• 素質そしつnature
• 意地いじdisposition
• 根性こんじょうcharacter
• 人気にんきcondition (e.g. market)
• 心根こころねnature
• 体質たいしつcharacter (of a group, organization, etc.)
• 習性しゅうせいbehavior
• 心ばえこころばえnature
• 天機てんきdisposition
• 毛色けいろdisposition
• ひとcharacter
• 向きむきnature (of a request or desire)