sing3 cing4性情
Jyutpingsing3 cing4
Yalesing chìhng
Definition
Temperament, character, or disposition.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses more on the innate disposition or emotional temperament of a person rather than just their personality traits. It is often used when describing a noticeable shift in someone's behavior or mood, such as becoming irritable or unusually quiet. While 性格 is a neutral term for personality, 性情 carries a slightly more literary or descriptive weight.
Examples
He is a very easygoing person with a gentle temperament.
Do you know why his temperament has changed so much?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe simple habits or preferences, as it specifically refers to the underlying nature or temperament. Learners sometimes confuse it with 性格, but 性格 is much broader and covers general personality traits like being talkative or organized.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
