Character facts for kids

A character is a word with many meanings! It can describe a person's qualities, a person in a story, or even a symbol you use to write. Understanding the different ways we use the word "character" helps us make sense of the world around us.

What is a Character?

The word "character" can mean different things depending on how it's used. It often refers to the qualities that make someone unique. It can also mean a person or creature in a book, movie, or game. Sometimes, it even means a symbol like a letter or number.

People and Their Qualities

When we talk about a person's character, we are usually thinking about their personality. This includes their good qualities, like being kind or honest. It also includes their less good qualities, like being impatient. Your character is what makes you, you!

Moral Character

Moral character is about how a person acts and makes choices. It shows if someone is honest, fair, and respectful. Having good moral character means you try to do the right thing, even when it's hard. For example, returning a lost wallet shows good moral character.

Social Roles

Sometimes, "character" can mean the role a person plays in society. This is like a "persona." Think about how you act differently with your friends compared to how you act with your teachers. You are still you, but you show different parts of your character in different situations.

Characters in Stories

One of the most common ways we use "character" is to talk about people or creatures in stories. These are called fictional characters because they are made up.

Fictional Characters

A fictional character is someone who exists only in a story. This could be a hero in a fantasy novel or a cartoon character on TV. They have personalities, goals, and challenges, just like real people. Think of Harry Potter or SpongeBob SquarePants; they are fictional characters.

Real People in Stories

Sometimes, a story might use a real person, but in a made-up way. This is called a non-fictional character used in a fictional setting. For example, a historical novel might feature a real king, but the conversations and some events might be imagined by the author.

Characters as Symbols

Beyond people, "character" can also refer to symbols. These are important for writing and computers.

Letters and Symbols

A letter is a type of character. It's a symbol we use to write down languages. For example, the letter 'A' is a character. The numbers '1', '2', '3' are also characters.

Chinese Characters

Chinese characters are a special type of written symbol. Unlike English letters, which represent sounds, many Chinese characters represent whole words or ideas. They are beautiful and complex symbols used in languages like Chinese and Japanese.

Computer Characters

In computers, a character is a single unit of information. This could be a letter, a number, a punctuation mark, or even a space. When you type on a keyboard, each key press usually creates a computer character. Computers use these characters to store and display text.

Characters in Biology

In biology, a "character" can mean a feature of a living thing.

Traits of Organisms

A trait is a special feature or characteristic of an organism. For example, the color of a flower or the shape of a bird's beak are traits. These traits are part of an organism's "character."

Entertainment and Media

The word "character" also appears in the titles of many creative works.

• Character (1997 film) - A movie from the Netherlands.
• Character (album) - An album by the band Dark Tranquillity.
• Characters (album) - An album by the famous musician Stevie Wonder.
• Character Options - A company that makes toys, often based on popular characters from TV shows and movies.
• The Characters - A book written by the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus, describing different types of people.