In this workshop you will practice describing someone's personality in polite Japanese. You will hear short model lines, notice how na-adjectives and i-adjectives work, and use softening words so a description sounds considerate rather than blunt. You will also answer a simple question about what kind of person someone is. Listen to each recording, repeat it aloud, and then try the three speaking tasks. You can play both roles in the dialogues, and you can check your own answers with the notes provided.
Describing Personality with Adjectives
Japanese personality descriptions often use a na-adjective before desu, or an i-adjective before a noun such as seikaku, meaning personality. Listen to «彼は外交的です。». This line says that he is outgoing, using the na-adjective gaikō-teki with desu. Now listen to «彼は明るい性格です。». This line says that he has a cheerful personality, using the i-adjective akarui before seikaku. Notice that the second pattern describes the personality rather than labeling the whole person. Repeat both lines slowly, keeping desu clear at the end. Then say each line again, changing only your rhythm, not the words.
Softening a Description
A direct personality word can sound strong, so Japanese speakers often add a small softening word. Listen to «彼女は少し内気です。». This line says that she is a bit shy, using sukoshi before the na-adjective uchiki. The word sukoshi makes the description gentler. Listen also to «彼女は恥ずかしがり屋です。». This line says that she is a shy person, using the noun hazukashigariya. This noun can feel gentler than calling someone uchiki directly. Practice both lines, then compare them. In the first, sukoshi softens the adjective. In the second, the noun itself presents shyness as a trait of the person.
Asking and Answering About Someone
A common polite question asks what kind of person someone is. Listen to «田中さんはどんな人ですか。». This question asks what kind of person Tanaka-san is. A natural answer can combine two descriptions. Listen to «彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。». This answer says that he is very outgoing and easy to talk to. The form de links the two descriptions. Now listen to «佐藤さんはどうですか。». This question asks how about Sato-san. Listen to «彼女は少し内気ですが、とても親切です。». This answer says that she is a bit shy but very kind. The word ga marks a contrast between shyness and kindness. Practice the question and answer pair aloud, then switch roles.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
彼は外交的です。
He is outgoing.
Kare wa gaikō-teki desu.
彼女は少し内気です。
She is a bit shy.
Kanojo wa sukoshi uchiki desu.
彼は明るい性格です。
He has a cheerful personality.
Kare wa akarui seikaku desu.
彼女は恥ずかしがり屋です。
She is a shy person.
Kanojo wa hazukashigariya desu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
田中さんはどんな人ですか。
What kind of person is Tanaka-san?彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。
He is very outgoing and easy to talk to.佐藤さんはどうですか。
How about Sato-san?彼女は少し内気ですが、とても親切です。
She is a bit shy, but very kind.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Describe
Imagine you are talking with a coworker about two people you both know. You will play both roles. First, listen to «田中さんはどんな人ですか。» and «彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。» as a model exchange.
Your task: Play the role of speaker A and ask the question from «田中さんはどんな人ですか。». Then play the role of speaker B and answer with the line from «彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。». Repeat the exchange twice, keeping a calm, polite tone. Then listen to «佐藤さんはどうですか。» and «彼女は少し内気ですが、とても親切です。» and repeat that second exchange in the same way.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Right Description
Imagine you hear someone describe a person and you need to choose which description matches. Listen again to «彼女は少し内気です。», «彼は明るい性格です。», and «彼女は恥ずかしがり屋です。» before you begin.
Your task: Read the three choices below. Then listen to each recording once and match it to the correct choice. Choice one: the person is a bit shy. Choice two: the person has a cheerful personality. Choice three: the person is a shy person. Say your matches aloud in full sentences using the referenced lines.
Recall with Correct Roles
Imagine a short conversation about two people. You will recall the lines and keep the roles correct. Speaker A asks the questions, and speaker B gives the descriptions.
Your task: Without looking at the text, say the question from «田中さんはどんな人ですか。» as speaker A. Then say the answer from «彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。» as speaker B. Next, say the question from «佐藤さんはどうですか。» as speaker A, and the answer from «彼女は少し内気ですが、とても親切です。» as speaker B. Keep the same order and do not swap the roles.
Common questions
What is the difference between uchiki and hazukashigariya?
Uchiki is a na-adjective for shy or reserved, and it can sound direct. Hazukashigariya is a noun meaning a shy person, and it often sounds gentler. In «彼女は少し内気です。» the speaker also adds sukoshi, meaning a little, to soften the description further. In «彼女は恥ずかしがり屋です。» the noun itself presents shyness as a trait rather than a blunt label.
How do I connect two personality descriptions in one sentence?
You can link a na-adjective description to another description with de. In «彼はとても外交的で、話しやすいです。» the speaker says the person is very outgoing and easy to talk to, using de after the first description. You can also use ga to show contrast, as in «彼女は少し内気ですが、とても親切です。», where the speaker says the person is a bit shy but very kind. Practice both patterns aloud so the linking sound becomes natural.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: describe personalityChecked September 2026
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