〜性(しょう)

しょう

suffix

personal disposition; constitution; tendency (suffix)

1. personal disposition; constitution; nature

Suffix attached to a noun or adjective stem to describe a person's inborn nature, temperament, or physical constitution. Distinct from 〜性(せい), which forms abstract -ness/-ity nouns.

彼(かれ)は苦労(くろう)性(しょう)だ。

He is a worrier by nature.

母(はは)は冷(ひ)え性(しょう)で、冬(ふゆ)はいつも手足(てあし)が冷(つめ)たい。

My mother is cold-natured, and her hands and feet are always cold in winter.

私(わたし)は心配(しんぱい)性(しょう)なので、出発(しゅっぱつ)前(まえ)に何度(なんど)も確認(かくにん)してしまう。

I'm a worrier by nature, so I check things many times before leaving.

Attaches to a noun or verb stem describing a personal trait or physical condition. The しょう reading is distinct from せい — 〜性(せい) forms abstract qualities (可能(かのう)性(せい) possibility) while 〜性(しょう) refers to an individual's habitual nature or constitution.

Compounds

心配(しんぱい)性(しょう): worrier; anxious by nature
苦労(くろう)性(しょう): someone who frets over small things
冷(ひ)え性(しょう): cold-natured (poor circulation)
凝(こ)り性(しょう): someone who throws themselves fully into hobbies
飽(あ)き性(しょう): someone who tires of things quickly
貧乏(びんぼう)性(しょう): someone who can't relax about money

Reading distinction

〜性(しょう): personal disposition, used with everyday/native vocabulary
〜性(せい): abstract quality forming -ness/-ity nouns (重要(じゅうよう)性(せい) importance, 可能(かのう)性(せい) possibility)

general

Added 2026.5.29 12:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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