Physical characteristics are defining traits or features about your body. These are aspects that are visually apparent, knowing nothing else about the person. The first thing you see when you look at someone could be their hair, clothes, nose, or figure. These are all examples of physical characteristics. To get good examples of physical characteristics you should look at a person’s face, how tall they are, and what they are wearing.

Build Characteristics

When describing the physical characteristics of an individual, one of the first things that will strike you is the overall build or body type. Some common adjectives that you may use to describe the build of a person may include the following:

• Plump
• Stocky
• Overweight
• Fat
• Pudgy
• Medium build
• Athletic
• Slender
• Lanky
• Fit
• Slim
• Trim
• Skinny
• Buff
• Muscular
• Ripped
• Well built

Height Characteristics

Another area of physical appearance you may consider is how tall a person is.

• Short
• Tall
• Petite
• Average height
• Gigantic
• Towering

Complexion Characteristics

When describing someone’s skin tone and complexion, you may consider some of the following words.

• Dark
• Light
• Fair
• Rosy
• Olive
• Pale
• Pasty
• Bronzed
• Tan
• Pimply
• Freckles
• Spots
• Pimples

Hair Characteristics

The words that you’d use to characterize someone’s hair can describe color, texture, shape, length and more.

• Blond
• Fair
• Auburn
• Red
• Brown
• Black
• Grey
• White
• Long
• Puffy
• Matted
• Short
• Curly
• Frizzy
• Wavy
• Permed
• Straight
• Bald
• Receding

Personality Traits

Before you can define who you are, you have to first understand some examples of personality traits. These can be determined by our actions, attitudes and behaviors. To help you discover your own personal traits ask yourself the following questions:

• How would I describe myself?
• What brought me joy as a child?
• What brings me joy now?
• What’s my biggest accomplishment?
• What’s my biggest dream?
• What’s my biggest fear?

Examples of Positive Personality Traits

Some, if not most, of your personality traits are likely to be positive. For example:

• Being honest and taking responsibility for your actions are admirable qualities.
• Adaptability and compatibility are great traits that can help you get along with others.
• Drive and determination will help you keep going no matter what.
• Compassion and understanding mean you relate well to others.
• Patience is a virtue and also a good personality trait.
• Courage will help you do what’s right in tough situations.
• Loyalty is a good quality to possess, making others trust you.

Here is a list of positive adjectives that can help you describe personality traits:

Examples of Negative Personality Traits

What would life be without balance? Whether we like to admit it or not, some of our personality traits are also likely to be negative:

• A propensity for lying, in order to avoid responsibility for our actions, is a deplorable quality.
• Being rigid and selfish, unyielding to the needs of others are not endearing qualities.
• Being full of laziness and excuses is sure to drive others away, too.
• An inability to empathize with others will also alienate us from others.
• Being quick to anger will turn people away.

Being disloyal, quick to talk about others behind their backs or, worse, stab them in the back for personal gain also falls high on the scale of negative personality traits.