character 有三个核心义项：①性格/品格（a person of strong character = 性格坚强的人）；②（小说/电影中的）人物（a fictional character）；③特色/特征（the character of a neighbourhood = 街区的特色）。高考最常考的是①和②，但③在描写类写作中很有用。注意 character 作「品格」时常不加冠词（it shows his character），作「人物」时需加冠词（a minor character）。
释义
1
n.性格；品格
Facing hardship reveals a person's true character.
面对逆境才能显露一个人的真实品格。
2
n.（小说/电影中的）人物；角色
Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in English literature.
夏洛克·福尔摩斯是英国文学中最标志性的人物之一。
3
n.特色；特点（of a place/thing）
The old architecture gives the town its unique character.
古老的建筑赋予了这座小镇独特的特色。
语感
in character / out of character = 符合/不符合某人平时的性格——高频口语短语
性格品格人物（文学）特色
两个固定短语必须记：in character = 表现得符合某人平时的性格（That's very in character for her = 这很符合她的性格）；out of character = 不符合平时的性格（It was out of character for him to lose his temper = 他发脾气真不像他）。还有：character building = 磨砺性格的（艰辛经历）；a character = 某种有趣的怪人（informal）。