Cool MateCharacter vs Temper
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Character
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Temper
Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Character
| Character | Temper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkærəktə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkærəktər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɛmpə//🇺🇸 //ˈtɛmpɚ// |
| Meaning | A person in a story, movie, or play. | a quality of mind or behavior; mood |
| Example | The main character in the story is very brave. | She has a fiery temper that often leads to arguments. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | central, chief, lead, play, portray, inhabit, development, in character, excellent, exemplary, good, be, have, form, trait, defect, flaw, in somebody’s character, out of character, great, show, build, strength of character, distinctive, individual, unique, have, assume, take on, in character, considerable, great, have, add, give something, of character, full of character, have a character (all) of its own, excellent, exemplary, good, be, have, form, trait, defect, flaw, in somebody’s character, out of character, excellent, exemplary, good, be, have, form, trait, defect, flaw, in somebody’s character, out of character, Chinese, etc., ASCII, set, string, insert, delete, set, string | lose one's temper, calm temper, fiery temper, warm temper, have a short temper |
| Antonyms | real person, nonfiction | calm, composure, patience |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'characteristic' — focus on what a person is like, not just traits., Using 'character' incorrectly to refer to a real person instead of in fictional contexts. | Confused with 'temperature' when discussing emotions., Using it only to mean anger, but it can describe any mood., Not recognizing it can mean a state of mind, not just anger. |
| Usage notes | Used commonly in literature and discussions about film. It is informal when talking to friends but can also be used in academic contexts. | Use 'temper' to describe someone's mood or emotional state. It can refer to impatience or anger, but usually in a more neutral context. Avoid using in overly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Character vs Temper
What's the difference between Character and Temper?
Character: A person in a story, movie, or play. Temper: a quality of mind or behavior; mood
Which is more common: Character and Temper?
Character is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Character: The main character in the story is very brave. Temper: She has a fiery temper that often leads to arguments.
Can I use Character and Temper interchangeably?
Not always. Character and Temper are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.