性

It carries meanings such as:

“nature, disposition, temperament” (성품)

“characteristic, quality” (성질)

“gender/sex” (성별)

A phono-semantic compound made up of:

心 (심, “heart/mind”) - gives the meaning (relating to the mind, emotions, or inner nature);

生 (생, “to be born”) - provides the sound.

The combination suggests that 性 originally referred to the innate qualities or nature one is “born with” (生) that reside in the heart/mind (心).

Semantic development:

1. Inborn nature

The earliest and most fundamental meaning:

the natural constitution of a person or thing, prior to learning or social influence.

性 ≠ 習

Nature (性) differs from habit (習).

2. Moral and psychological disposition

By extension, 性 came to mean:

- temperament

- character

- moral inclination

This sense dominates Confucian ethical discourse.

3. Philosophical concept of “human nature”

性 becomes a key term in debates on:

- goodness

- desire

- self-cultivation

4. Biological sex (later usage)

In premodern texts this sense is rare; it becomes common in modern and scientific vocabulary.

성품 (性品) — innate character

본성 (本性) — original nature

성질 (性質) — disposition; quality

성격 (性格) — personality

성향 (性向) — tendency; inclination

인성 (人性) — human nature

Across East Asian thought, 性 functions as:

- the foundation of ethics (Confucianism)

- the object of transformation (Xunzi)

- the seed of awakening (Buddhism)

- the ground of spontaneity (Daoism)

Few characters have played a more central philosophical role.

Related characters:

情 — emotion; feeling (expression of 性)

心 — heart; mind

命 — fate; endowment

德 — virtue (cultivated 性)

欲 — desire

本 — root; origin

質 — substance; underlying quality

Classical citations:

Analects (論語, Yanghuo)

「性相近也，習相遠也」

“Human natures are similar; habits make them different.”

This reflects the Confucian view that nature is shared, while differences arise through practice.

Mencius (孟子, Gaozi I)

「人之性善」

“The nature of humans is good.”

Here, 性 is understood as a moral potential inclined toward goodness.

Xunzi (荀子, Xing’e)

「人之性惡，其善者偽也」

“Human nature is evil; goodness is acquired.”

Xunzi interprets 性 as raw desire, requiring discipline and education.

Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra

「一切衆生悉有佛性」

“All sentient beings possess Buddha-nature.”

In Buddhism, 性 refers to Buddha-nature—the innate capacity for enlightenment.

Daoist texts

「復其性，歸其真」

“Return to one’s nature and return to the true.”

性 is identified with naturalness (自然) and uncontrived being.