習性(しゅうせい)

しゅうせい
noun
nature; instinct; ingrained habit
1. nature, instinct, innate behavior
An animal's innate behavioral pattern or instinct. Used in biology and nature contexts to describe characteristic behaviors of a species.
猫(ねこ)には夜行性(やこうせい)の習性(しゅうせい)がある。
Cats have a nocturnal nature.
渡(わた)り鳥(どり)の習性(しゅうせい)を研究(けんきゅう)している。
I'm researching the behavioral habits of migratory birds.
この昆虫(こんちゅう)は光(ひかり)に集(あつ)まる習性(しゅうせい)があり、夏(なつ)の夜(よる)に街灯(がいとう)の周(まわ)りに大量(たいりょう)に見(み)られる。
This insect has an instinct to gather around light, and large numbers can be seen around streetlights on summer nights.
2. ingrained habit, second nature
A deeply ingrained habit or behavioral tendency in a person, often one that is hard to change. Implies the behavior has become almost instinctive.
値段(ねだん)を確認(かくにん)するのは職業(しょくぎょう)の習性(しゅうせい)だ。
Checking prices is a professional habit of mine.
記者(きしゃ)の習性(しゅうせい)で、つい質問(しつもん)してしまう。
Out of a reporter's ingrained habit, I can't help asking questions.
長年(ながねん)の習性(しゅうせい)は簡単(かんたん)には直(なお)らないもので、引退(いんたい)しても朝(あさ)早(はや)く目(め)が覚(さ)めてしまう。
Long-standing habits don't change easily — even after retirement, I still wake up early in the morning.

Usage

Sense 1 (animal instinct) is the primary meaning. When applied to people (sense 2), it emphasizes that the behavior is so deeply rooted it has become almost involuntary.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 癖(くせ) (habit, quirk (everyday))
Compare: 本能(ほんのう) (instinct (biological drive))
Compare: 習慣(しゅうかん) (habit, custom)
general
Added 2026.2.27 16:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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