Can 体 be synonymous with a word like 性格 in some cases?


I've seen 体 used a few times where I think it's not referring to the literal
translation of 'body', looking at a dictionary I can see there are other
definitions for example:

> 体(たい) substance; identity; reality

I've recently read a line of a Japanese story where 体 was used, but in my mind
I felt it was perhaps referring to ' personality rather than 'body' quite
literally. I thought perhaps it was being used in the same way as 性格. (I can't
remember the line word for word in Japanese but in English my translation was
"they have different 'bodies' but share the same experiences" and the kanji 体
was there)

The fact that the word identity is listed as a definition makes me think my
assertion that it could be referring to personality, is correct.

However I'm wary of using dictionary definitions without understanding what
context it can be used in. And the word identity has a broad spectrum of
connotations.

Am i right in thinking that 体 can indeed be referring to someone's character
or personality and not 'body' in the literal sense?




I must say that the answer is **yes** (at least roughly).

「体」, when it is read 「たい」, can mean " **things that constitute the true nature
of a person/thing** ". So, it is about a "true character" rather than just a
"character" that 「体」 could refer to.

There is a well-known saying:

> 「名{な}は体{たい}を表{あらわ}す」,

which is often translated into English as:

> "Names and natures do often agree."

(Actually, the English version might be the original in this case. I am not
well-read enough to know.)

I do know, however, that this was a very good question.

