Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

人相学 (ninsougaku) Japanese meaning: physiognomy | Kotomora

人にん相そう学がく

に

ん

そ

う

が

く

Meanings

1

The study of judging character or fate from facial features. A formal, somewhat academic term.

彼かれは人にん相そう学がくに基もとづいて相あい手ての性せい格かくを判

はん

断だん

しよう

と

し

た

。

He tried to judge the other person's character based on physiognomy.

Kanji

人person
相inter-, mutual, together
学study, learning, science

Related words

観かん相そう学がく
A near-synonym also meaning physiognomy, but 人相学 is more common.

Built from

人にん相そう+学がく

Etymology

Compound of 人相 (physiognomy, facial features) and 学 (study, -ology). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term follows a common pattern for academic disciplines.