human-nature
/ˌhjuːmən ˈneɪtʃə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The natural feelings, needs, and weaknesses people have as humans. It often means the parts of us that are not perfect or fully controlled.
- Greed is part of human nature.
- It is human nature to want approval.
- He blamed the mistake on human nature.
Adinary Nuance
Human nature is broader than personality. It refers to common traits people share, like fear, kindness, selfishness, or hope. Use it when you mean something built into being human, not one person's usual behavior. It is closer to a general pattern than to a private habit.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bản tính con người
- Spanish
- naturaleza humana
- Chinese
- 人性
- Japanese
- 人間性
- Korean
- 인간성
Etymology
Human nature comes from Middle English and Old French roots for "human" and "nature." The phrase has been used in English since the medieval period to talk about shared human qualities.
Common phrases
against human naturepart of human naturehuman nature tends to
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is human nature a formal phrase?
- Yes. It is common in essays, speeches, and serious discussion.
- What is the difference between human nature and personality?
- Human nature means shared human traits. Personality means one person's individual character.
- Can I say 'it's human nature' in writing?
- Yes. It is natural in both speaking and writing.