What is the equivalent Japanese term for "Anthropomorphize/Anthropomorphic"


In English, we have two distinct concepts ["Anthropomorphization" and
"Personification". ](http://pediaa.com/difference-between-personification-and-
anthropomorphism/)

The former, meaning to impart _some_ human traits onto an object or animal is
often seen in Japan/Japanese media:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zTwOW.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zTwOW.png)

On the other hand, "Personification", which is to go "bottom-up" and make an
object or animal into a complete person is also often seen in Japanese media,
and after consulting my Japanese friend they taught me the word for it is
擬人化{ぎじんか}, which is basically this:

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hWMh1.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/hWMh1.jpg)

While the two concepts in English are distinctly different, I could find no
Japanese language version of "Anthropomorphization" as either a noun, verb, or
concept.

Considering how prevalent the former is in Japan, why isn't there a word for
it and why does our concept of "anthropomorphize" always imply
"Personification" in Japanese?




**擬人化** is used to mean "personification" as in the second image of the OP.

  * (Expressing a something by showing it _as if it were_ human)

**擬人観** is used to mean "anthropomorphism" as in the first image of the OP.

  * (Imposing human characteristics on something)

Culturally speaking though, the concept of "anthropomorphism"（擬人観） is referred
to far more often by native English speakers than by native Japanese speakers,
so this word is not as familiar to native Japanese speakers as it would be to
a native English speaker.

Sources: 大辞林, 大辞泉, Wikipedia, Google Image Search




**擬人化** is used to mean "personification" as in the second image of the OP.

  * (Expressing a something by showing it _as if it were_ human)

**擬人観** is used to mean "anthropomorphism" as in the first image of the OP.

  * (Imposing human characteristics on something)

Culturally speaking though, the concept of "anthropomorphism"（擬人観） is referred
to far more often by native English speakers than by native Japanese speakers,
so this word is not as familiar to native Japanese speakers as it would be to
a native English speaker.

Sources: 大辞林, 大辞泉, Wikipedia, Google Image Search

