性癖|せいへきseiheki[0]heiban (flat)

1. noundisposition; inclination; characteristic; idiosyncrasy; propensity
   彼かれの変かわった性癖せいへきが彼かれらを困こまらせた。↗

   His strange habit confounded them.
2. nounsexual disposition; fetish

• Synonym気質きしつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Temperament: inborn emotional tendencies, also a psychology term; objective, with no hint of quirks or sexual orientation.
• Synonym性向せいこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. An inclination of character toward one side; neutral and objective, and unlike 「性癖」 it does not call sexual tastes to mind.
• Synonym気性きしょうNeutralTemper — fiery or mild, as in 「気性が荒い」; about the vigor of one's nature, with nothing to do with tastes or quirks.
• Synonym性分しょうぶんWrittenWritten/formal prose. An inborn temperament one cannot change, often as 「〜は性分だ」; never about sexual tastes.
• Synonym癖くせNeutralEveryday word for habits and mannerisms, from small tics to lying; 「性癖」 originally meant a bias of character like this.
• Synonym傾向けいこうNeutralA tendency or trend, of individuals or society, as in 「考えすぎる傾向」; 「性癖」 centers on a bias in one's character.
• Synonym性情せいじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose, and rare even there: character blended with mood, with a refined, literary air; not a word for tastes.
• Related性質せいしつNeutralMuch broader range: a person's character or the properties of a substance; more neutral and objective than 「性癖」.
• Related気きNeutralMostly in set phrases like 「気が短い」 or 「気が強い」; points to states of mind, not quirks or tastes.
• Related性格せいかくNeutralThe everyday word for character: a person's overall emotional and volitional tendencies; unlike 「性癖」, it suggests nothing odd or sexual.
• Related好みこのみNeutralSimply what one likes — tastes and preferences; more neutral than 「性癖」 and free of any obsessive overtone.
• Related資質ししつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Innate aptitude: talent and the qualities suited to a role, not personal quirks.
• Related持ち前もちまえNeutralColloquial. Qualities one is born with, virtues and faults alike, as in 「持ち前の明るさ」 or 「持ち前の頑固さ」.
• Related素質そしつWrittenWritten/formal prose. The makings for future development; leans toward ability and potential, not habits.
• Related根性こんじょうNeutralColloquial. Grit and determination, or one's basic nature, usually as 「根性がある」 or 「根性が悪い」.
• Related天性てんせいWrittenWritten/formal prose. What one is born with — nature or gift — usually with a positive slant.
• Related本性ほんしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. The true nature hidden underneath, often pejorative, as in 「本性を現す」.
• RelatedたちNeutralColloquial. Inborn nature or constitution, often as 「たちが悪い」; about basic character, not a specific quirk.

「性癖」 originally meant a bias or quirk of character, but in today's colloquial usage it is mostly understood as sexual tastes, so handle it with care. For personality in general, 「性格」 and 「性質」 are the safe everyday choices; for habits and mannerisms, use 「癖」. The rest — 「気質」, 「気性」, 「性分」, 「好み」 and so on — name temperament, disposition or plain liking, without the fetish overtone.

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

1. 性質せいしつ上じょうの偏かたより。癖くせ。
2. 性的せいてきな欲望よくぼうを抱いだく対象たいしょうや行動こうどうに関かんする好このみの傾向けいこう。性的せいてき嗜好しこう。