characterisation
characterisation — noun
1. the way a writer or director creates the individuals in a story, film, or play s
the way a writer or director creates the individuals in a story, film, or play so that they feel like believable, interesting people
Wren praised the novel for its strong characterisation of the main heroine.
strong characterisation — collocation for praise
The film's characterisation of the elderly couple felt warm and deeply realistic.
Through careful characterisation, Maeve made each detective feel like a real person.
Good characterisation in a story helps readers form a strong bond with the characters.
Zuri thought the TV drama had the best characterisation of any show this year.
- portrayal
focuses on how a character is shown to the audience; used more in performance contexts
- depiction
slightly more neutral; can refer to visual or verbal representation
- representation
broader; includes how any group or idea is shown, not just individuals
文法句型
characterisation + of + character/group
adjective + characterisation
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable. It is most often used with an evaluative adjective (strong, weak, realistic, convincing) or in the pattern 'characterisation of [a group or character type]'. Common in reviews and literary criticism.
常見錯誤
2. a written or spoken description that identifies the most important features of s
a written or spoken description that identifies the most important features of someone or something
The scientist's characterisation of the new species was published in a major journal.
characterisation + of + noun phrase — identifying key features
Sofia disagreed with her boss's characterisation of the project as a complete failure.
characterisation + of + noun + as + complement
Christopher offered a more balanced characterisation of the political situation in his article.
The legal team rejected the media's characterisation of their client as guilty before the trial.
Ritu's characterisation of the problem helped the team approach it from a fresh angle.
- description
more general; a characterisation picks out the main qualities rather than listing all features
- portrayal
stronger implication of shaping a particular view, not necessarily objective
- delineation
more formal and precise; suggests careful outlining of boundaries or features
文法句型
characterisation + of + noun phrase
possessive + characterisation
characterisation + of + noun + as + complement
用法筆記
This sense is countable. It frequently appears with a possessive noun (the report's characterisation, the author's characterisation) or in the pattern 'a characterisation of someone/something as [quality]'. Slightly more formal than 'description'.