How to say "personal" in Japanese

• 個人こじんJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounPrimarily a noun for the individual or private person; it covers 'personal' in the sense of private and individual, as opposed to public, official, or organizational.
  この部屋へやは個人こじん専用せんようです。↗

  This room is for individual use.
• 直接ちょくせつJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjective, adverbIt usually means 'direct(ly)' or 'firsthand'; its 'personal' sense is the in-person, face-to-face one — direct involvement rather than dealing through an intermediary.
  彼女かのじょに直接ちょくせつ言いったらどうですか。↗

  Why don't you tell her directly?
• 個別こべつJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'personal' in the sense of individual and separate — treatment or handling case by case, one person or item at a time, rather than collective or general.
  あらゆる事態じたいを個別こべつに分析ぶんせきする必要ひつようがある。↗

  Every situation requires individual analysis.
• パーソナルCommon
  na-adjectiveThe loanword adjective; it transcribes 'personal' directly and carries a borrowed feel, so for most other senses of 'personal' a native word is the better choice.
• 対人たいじんCommon
  no-adjectiveMatches 'personal' only in the interpersonal sense — concerning dealings and relations between people; for any other sense of 'personal' it is not the word you want.

Use 個人 for personal in the private, individual sense, 個別 for separate case-by-case handling, 直接 when personal means direct or in person, 対人 for interpersonal matters, and 「パーソナル」 as the loanword.

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

• 個人こじんindividual
• 直接ちょくせつdirect
• 個別こべつindividual
• パーソナルpersonal
• 対人たいじんpersonal
• 私的してきprivate
• 人的じんてきhuman
• 個人的こじんてきpersonal
• 一身上いっしんじょうpersonal (affairs, reasons, etc.)
• マイmy
• 個性的こせいてきindividual
• パソpersonal (computer)
• 属人ぞくじんpersonal
• 一己いっこpersonal
• 直披じきひpersonal
• お抱えおかかえpersonal (employee)
• 人格的じんかくてきin terms of one's personality
• 私わたくしpersonal (affairs, etc.)
• 独自どくじindependent
• 自家じかown