Recently, the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) has gained popularity among young people, sparking a craze for online quizzes, workshops, and personality-based matchmaking services.
Many Chinese companies also use the MBTI for recruitment and team-building to enhance communication among employees.
Let’s explore this four-letter indicator and learn some useful vocabulary for describing personalities ๐ค
What Is The MBTI?
The MBTI, also known as MBTIๆต่ฏ (MBTI cรจshรฌ) is a personality assessment based on Carl Jung’s theories of psychological types.
It is mainly used to measure people’s psychological activities and personality types in obtaining information, making decisions, and dealing with life.
่ฟๅฐๆฏ-ๅธ้ๆ ผๆฏ็ฑปๅๆๆ
Mร i’ฤrsฤซ-Bรนlวgรฉsฤซ Lรจixรญng Zhวbiฤo
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The indicator was developed by Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter Isabel Briggs Myers in the early 1940s and categorizes individuals into 16 distinct personality types across four dimensions:
๐ก Introversion (ๅ
ๅ, nรจixiร ng) vs. Extraversion (ๅคๅ, wร ixiร ng).
This dimension describes how a person gains energy. Extroverts tend to gain energy from the external world, while introverts gain energy from their internal world and solitude.
๐ก Sensing (ๆ่ง, gวnjuรฉ) vs. Intuition (็ด่ง, zhรญjuรฉ).
This dimension involves the way information is received. Sensing individuals focus on reality and concrete information perceived directly through the five senses, while intuitive individuals focus on patterns, imagination, and possibilities.
๐ก Thinking (ๆ่, sฤซkวo) vs. Feeling (ๆ
ๆ, qรญnggวn).
This dimension describes the decision-making process. Thinking individuals focus on logic and objective standards while feeling individuals consider interpersonal relationships and others’ emotions.
๐ก Judging (ๅคๆญ, pร nduร n) vs. Perceiving (็ฅ่ง, zhฤซjuรฉ).
Dimension involves one’s attitude toward the external world. Judging individuals prefer a planned and organized life, while perceiving individuals are more flexible, open, and like to keep their options open.
16 Personalities
There are a total of 16 personalities, each personality type is represented by a four-letter code, which provides insight into an individual’s preferences, behaviors, and interactions with the world.
16ๅไบบๆ ผ
shรญliรน xรญng rรฉngรฉ
16 personalities
PRO TIP
For many young Chinese, discussing MBTI types is a popular social activity (็คพไบคๆดปๅจ, shรจjiฤo huรณdรฒng). If you want to break the ice in conversations you can ask someone:
ไฝ ๆฏIไบบ่ฟๆฏEไบบ?
Nว shรฌ I rรฉn hรกishรฌ E rรฉn๏ผ
Are you introvert or extrovert?
lit. “Are you an i-person or an e-person?”
Now, let’s take a closer look at all 16 personality types. This way, you’ll be ready to discuss them with your Chinese friends, colleagues, or even on a date ๐
01. Architect (INTJ)
Architects are independent, confident, strategic, and good at planning and solving complex problems.
ๅปบ็ญๅธ (INTJ)
Jiร nzhรนshฤซ (INTJ)
Architect (INTJ)
Architects are characterized by a unique combination of preferences: Introversion, Intuition, Thinking, and Judging.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF ARCHITECT
่ชไฟก (zรฌxรฌn) – self-confident
ๆ่ฟ่ง (yวu yuวnjiร n) – visionary
้ป่พๆงๅผบ (luรณjรญxรฌng qiรกng) – strong logic
02. Logician (INTP)
Logicians are rational, independent, and curious, they are skilled in analysis and logical thinking and enjoy exploring theories and concepts.
้ป่พๅญฆๅฎถ (INTP)
Luรณjรญxuรฉjiฤ (INTP)
Logician (INTP)
Logic and reason are the most important traits and preferences of INTPs, which explains their nicknames.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF LOGICIAN
็ๆง (lวxรฌng) – rational
้ป่พๆงๅผบ (luรณjรญxรฌng qiรกng) – strong logic
ๅฅฝๅฅ (hร oqรญ) – curious
03. Commander (ENTJ)
Commanders are confident, and decisive, possess leadership qualities, and are adept at formulating strategies and achieving goals.
ๆๆฅๅฎ (ENTJ)
Zhวhuฤซguฤn (ENTJ)
Commander (ENTJ)
The extroverted nature of ๆๆฅๅฎ (Zhวhuฤซguฤn) allows them to engage with people easily and gives them the ability to motivate and persuade others to do their best.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF COMMANDER
้ขๅฏผ่ฝๅ (lวngdวo nรฉnglรฌ) – strong leadership skills
่ชไฟก (zรฌxรฌn) – confidence
ๆๆญ (guวduร n) – decisive
04. Debater (ENTP)
Debaters are sharp and curious minds, good at debating, enjoy challenges and innovation, and are eager to explore novel solutions.
่พฉ่ฎบๅฎถ (ENTP)
Biร nlรนnjiฤ (ENTP)
Debater (ENTP)
The P in this personality type stands for Perceiving. Perceivers prefer flexible schedules and are spontaneous. They enjoy open-ended situations while avoiding decision-making.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF DEBATER
ๆ้ญ
ๅ (yวu mรจilรฌ) – charismatic
ๅไบ่พฉ่ฎบ (shร nyรบ biร nlรนn) – good at debating
ๆบๆบ (jฤซzhรฌ) – resourceful
05. Advocate (INFJ)
Advocates are quiet visionaries, often serving as inspiring and tireless idealists. They are caring for others, with a strong moral compass and sense of purpose.
ๆๅก่
(INFJ)
Tรญchร ngzhฤ (INFJ)
Advocate (INFJ)
Out of all the MBTI personality types, the INFJ is the most unique as it is the result of a combination of preferences that generally exclude one another:
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF ADVOCATE
ๆๅ็ๅฟ (yวu tรณnglวxฤซn) – empathetic
ๅฉไปไธปไน (lรฌtฤ zhวyรฌ) – altruistic
ๅๅฎ (jiฤndรฌng) – firm
06. Mediator (INFP)
Mediators are poetic, kind, and altruistic people, always eager to help a good cause. They have a deep sense of empathy, understanding, and connection with the emotions of others.
่ฐๅ่
(INFP)
Tiรกotรญngzhฤ (INFP)
Mediator (INFP)
People with the INFP personality type long for deep, soulful relationships, and they feel called to help others.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF MEDIATOR
ๆๅ็ๅฟ (yวu tรณnglวxฤซn) – empathetic
ๅฟ ่ฏ (zhลngchรฉng) – loyal
ๅ่ฏ (shร nliรกng) – kind
07. Protagonist (ENFJ)
Protagonists are inspirational optimists who are quick to take action in pursuit of what they believe is right.
ไธปไบบๅ
ฌ (ENFJ)
Zhวrรฉngลng (ENFJ)
Protagonist (ENFJ)
They are skilled at organizing and coordinating people and resources to achieve their goals and also are persuasive communicators, able to influence others to adopt their point of view.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF PROTAGONIST
้ผ่ไบบๅฟ (gวwว rรฉnxฤซn) – inspiring
็ญๆ
(rรจqรญng) – enthusiastic
็ฒพๅๅ
ๆฒ (jฤซnglรฌ chลngpรจi) – energetic
08. Campaigner (ENFP)
Campaigners are passionate, creative, adept at inspiring others, and enjoy exploring new ideas and possibilities.
็ซ้่
(ENFP)
Jรฌngxuวnzhฤ (ENFP)
Campaigner (ENFP)
็ซ้่ (Jรฌngxuวnzhฤ) are sociable, warm-hearted, and open-minded. Their vibrant and positive outlook on life makes them stand out in any social setting.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Intuition ๐๐๐๐๐ Sensing
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF CAMPAIGNER
ๅฟ่ธๅผ้ (xฤซnxiลng kฤikuรฒ) – openhearted
็ญๆ
ๆดๆบข (rรจqรญng yรกngyรฌ) – enthusiastic
็ฒพๅๅ
ๆฒ (jฤซnglรฌ chลngpรจi) – energetic
09. Logistician (ISTJ)
Logisticians are known for their practicality, reliability, and meticulous attention to detail. They are practical and fact-minded individuals, whose reliability cannot be doubted.
็ฉๆตๅธ (ISTJ)
Wรนliรบshฤซ (ISTJ)
Logistician (ISTJ)
The methodical approach of ็ฉๆตๅธ (Wรนliรบshฤซ) to problem-solving makes them excellent planners and organizers.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF LOGISTICIAN
ๅฏ้ (kฤkร o) – reliable
ๅกๅฎ (wรนshรญ) – enthusiastic
ๆๆญ (guวduร n) – decisive
10. Defender (ISFJ)
Defenders are very dedicated and warm protectors, always ready to defend their loved ones. They are known for their kindness, dedication, and strong sense of duty.
ๅฎๅซ่
(ISFJ)
Shวuwรจizhฤ (ISFJ)
Defender (ISFJ)
Defenders are supportive and reliable, often going above and beyond to help those in need. They are nurturing and protective, making them excellent caretakers and trusted friends.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF DEFENDER
ๅๅ (yวushร n) – friendly
ๅฟ ่ฏ (zhลngchรฉng) – loyal
ไบฒๅ (qฤซnqiรจ) – kind
11. Executive (ESTJ)
Executives are decisive and clear-headed, with a strong sense of duty and responsibility. They value tradition and uphold standards, often setting high expectations for themselves and others.
ๆป็ป็ (ESTJ)
Zวngjฤซnglว (ESTJ)
Executive (ESTJ)
Executives are natural organizers who excel in taking charge and ensuring that everything runs smoothly and according to plan.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF EXECUTIVE
ๅกๅฎ (wรนshรญ) – pragmatic
็ฒพๅๅ
ๆฒ (jฤซnglรฌ chลngpรจi) – vigorous
้ขๅฏผ่ฝๅๅผบ (lวngdวo nรฉnglรฌ qiรกng) – strong leadership skills
12. Consul (ESFJ)
Consuls, identified by the personality type ESFJ, are known for their warmth, sociability, and strong sense of community.
ๆงๆฟๅฎ (ESFJ)
Zhรญzhรจngguฤn (ESFJ)
Consul (ESFJ)
Consuls are caring and supportive individuals who thrive on helping others and creating harmonious environments. They are often the glue that holds groups together, whether in family, work, or social settings.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Judging ๐๐๐๐๐ Perceiving
PERSONAL TRAITS OF CONSUL
ๅๅ (yวushร n) – friendly
่ด่ดฃ (fรนzรฉ) – conscientious
็คพไบค่ฝๅๅผบ (shรจjiฤo nรฉnglรฌ qiรกng) – strong social skills
13. Virtuoso (ISTP)
The Virtuosos are known for their resourcefulness and adventurous spirit. They are innovative and practical experimenters, and masters of all kinds of tools.
้ด่ตๅฎถ (ISTP)
Jiร nshวngjiฤ (ISTP)
Virtuoso (ISTP)
Virtuosos have a knack for understanding the mechanics of systems and objects, often excelling in fields that require technical skills and practical know-how, such as engineering, mechanics, and craftsmanship.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF VIRTUOSO
ๅฎ็จ (shรญyรฒng) – practical
็ตๆดป (lรญnghuรณ) – flexible
็ฌ็ซ (dรบlรฌ) – independent
๐ค Chinese netizens have nicknamed this personality “Brother Drill” (้ปๅฅ Zuฤn Gฤ) highlighting his skill in mechanical work.
14. Adventurer (ISFP)
Adventurers are free spirits who thrive on exploring new experiences and expressing themselves in unique ways. They are sensitive and often drawn to helping others and making the world a more beautiful place.
ๆข้ฉๅฎถ (ISFP)
Tร nxiวnjiฤ (ISFP)
Adventurer (ISFP)
Adventurers have a keen eye for aesthetics and often excel in artistic pursuits such as music, visual arts, and design.
Introversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Extraversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF ADVENTURER
ๆธฉๅ (wฤnhรฉ) – gentle
ๆๆง (gวnxรฌng) – perceptual
ๅ่ฏ (shร nliรกng) – kindhearted
15. Entrepreneur (ESTP)
Entrepreneurs are savvy, energetic, and very perceptive people who truly enjoy living on the edge. They are known for their energy, boldness, and knack for taking action.
ไผไธๅฎถ (ESTP)
Qวyรจjiฤ (ESTP)
Entrepreneur (ESTP)
Their natural charisma and persuasive communication skills make them effective negotiators and leaders, often inspiring others with their confidence and drive.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Thinking ๐๐๐๐๐ Feeling
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF ENTREPRENEUR
ๅฎ็จ (shรญyรฒng) – pragmatic
ๅไบ่พฉ่ฎบ (shร nyรบ biร nlรนn) – good at debating
ๆบๆบ (jฤซzhรฌ) – resourceful
16. Entertainer (ESFP)
Entertainers are the life of the party, bringing joy and excitement wherever they go. They are spontaneous and playful, always eager to explore new experiences and share them with others.
่กจๆผ่
(ESFP)
Biวoyวnzhฤ (ESFP)
Entertainer (ESFP)
Entertainers have a natural ability to make others feel comfortable and appreciated, often using their charm and wit to create a fun and lively atmosphere โ life is never boring around them.
Extraversion ๐๐๐๐๐ Introversion
Sensing ๐๐๐๐๐ Intuition
Feeling ๐๐๐๐๐ Thinking
Perceiving ๐๐๐๐๐ Judging
PERSONAL TRAITS OF ENTERTAINER
ๅๅ (yวushร n) – friendly
ๆดปๆณผ (huรณpo) – lively
ไน่ง็ (lรจguฤn de) – optimistic
Your Turn!
Now it’s your turn to discover which of these 16 personalities you are.
๐ Take a quick test and share your results in the comments!
ไฝ ็MBTIๆฏไปไน๏ผ
Nว de MBTI shรฌ shรฉnme?
What’s yourย MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) type?
Practice With Teacher
If you want to discuss your MBTI type and all the 16 personalities, book a free trial class with That’s Mandarin and practice with Chinese teachers.
