How to describe a person's appearance

Describing someone's appearance may sound simple at first, but when you try it, you'll realize it's not as easy as it seems. Whether you're describing a person you just met or giving the police a description of a suspicious individual, it's essential to highlight the main physical traits and any distinguishing features. On the other hand, if you're describing a character for your story, it's just as important to add some imaginative details that will engage your readers.

Determine the person's gender, if possible. In many cases, this is fairly obvious and one of the first things you'll notice. However, not everyone fits into the binary gender categories, and it's best not to make assumptions unless it's necessary.

• For instance, if you're describing a suspect to the police, you might say, “I believe the person is male, but I'm not entirely sure.”
• In other situations, you can simply skip this detail and focus on other characteristics instead.

Pay attention to skin color and, if necessary, make assumptions about race or ethnicity. This is another area where there is a difference between describing for the police versus describing for other purposes. In the first case, you may have to make a guess— for example, 'He looks like a Caucasian' or 'She appears to be Korean.' In some situations, this can be sensitive or even offensive.

• You might prefer to simply describe skin color with phrases like 'olive skin,' 'fair skin,' 'dark complexion,' etc., and leave it to others to make further assumptions if they choose.

Estimate age in 5- or 10-year increments. In many cases, you can estimate someone's age as 'around 25' or 'in their 60s.' Consider narrowing the age range based on your estimate— this will help the listener form a more accurate image of the person you're describing.

• For example, the person will be easier to picture if you say they're between 30 and 35, rather than between 30 and 40.
• This is especially important for younger people—clearly, a 10-year-old looks very different from a 20-year-old!

Refer to height by describing or estimating. If you only get a quick glance, you might only be able to make a general statement about their height, such as 'tall,' 'short,' 'average,' or 'very short.' This vague description is more helpful when identifying whether the person is male, female, or a child.

• If you can give a more precise estimate, try describing height in increments of 5 cm— for example, 'She is about 1.6 to 1.65 meters tall' or 'He is about 1.8 to 1.85 meters tall.'

Describe weight using adjectives like 'slim,' 'average,' or 'larger.' Estimating a person's weight is often harder than estimating their height. Therefore, it’s better to rely on general categories to describe someone's physique, like 'She's very slim' or 'He has a large build.'

• Sometimes, describing someone's size or weight may seem impolite, so unless you need to be as specific as possible (e.g., when describing a missing person), stick to physique descriptions like 'slim,' 'average build,' etc.
• Some terms for body types may be considered less tactful in some dialects. For example, the term 'plump' used to describe a woman in British English sounds more polite than the American English term 'large' or 'curvy.'
• If you must describe weight precisely, try to estimate in 10 kg increments if possible.

Describe the person's overall appearance as tactfully as possible.

After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so your definition of 'beautiful' may differ from someone else's. You can describe your own perception, but be tactful. For example:

• Call someone 'average-looking' instead of 'ugly.'
• Use 'disheveled' or 'messy' instead of 'dirty.'
• Use 'pleasant-looking' to describe someone with good looks rather than 'beautiful,' 'gorgeous,' or even 'handsome.'
• 'Soft' isn't entirely accurate, but it may be the best way to describe someone with a physique that differs from 'toned,' 'fit,' or 'muscular.'

Pay attention to hair color, length, style, and texture. Use general terms that almost anyone can imagine. For example:

• Color: brown, black, blonde, reddish-brown, red, salt and pepper
• Length: shaved, short, long, medium, shoulder-length, etc.
• Style: straight, curly, wavy, kinky, ponytail, braided, bun, etc.
• Texture: messy, sparse, frizzy, clean, shiny, smooth, etc.

Describe the eye color, shape, eyebrows, and glasses. Just like with hair, use simple terms that most people can easily imagine. For example:

• Color: black, brown, gray, blue, green, light brown
• Shape: large eyes, narrow eyes, protruding eyes, deep-set eyes, crossed eyes, etc.
• Eyebrows: color along with attributes like thick, thin, meet in the middle, etc.
• Glasses: color, shape, material, thickness, and lens color.

Notice the features like nose, ears, and lips. Words like 'large,' 'average,' or 'small' are commonly used to describe ears. Lips can be described as 'thin,' 'average,' or 'full.' Noses are usually described as 'short,' 'long,' 'large,' 'small,' 'pointed,' 'round,' 'upturned,' 'crooked,' etc. The face itself can be described as 'long,' 'round,' or 'flat.'

• If you are writing a report for the police, note down specific details like 'rosy cheeks,' 'puffy eyes,' or 'a double chin.' If not, it’s best to be discreet and skip those details!

Identify distinctive features such as scars and tattoos. These features are incredibly important if you're describing someone's appearance to authorities—such as in cases of missing persons or suspect identification. Be sure to pay attention to permanent characteristics and provide detailed descriptions.

• Instead of saying 'He has a tattoo on his arm,' you should describe it as 'He has a black and red heart tattoo with the word “Mom” written in cursive on his upper arm.'
• If you use general terms like 'tattoos,' people will imagine someone fully covered in ink.

Look for unique characteristics such as posture and habits. Do they have a “slouching” or “hunched” posture? Do they often tilt their head to one side or wink while talking? Do they tend to shake their leg while sitting? These small details can help the listener better visualize the person you're describing.

• Some features like these can connect physical appearance with personality, and also help create a more complete picture of the person.

Describe their clothing, or at least their overall appearance or style. If you're describing to authorities, try to provide as much detail as possible about what they're wearing—pants, shirt, jacket, shoes, hat, etc. For a more general description, you can broadly talk about their style or fashion.

• In some places, the word “diện” is used to describe someone who dresses neatly and fashionably.

Use figurative language to describe details. Use figurative language as much as possible to vividly portray the person's appearance. This is the creative part of your writing!

• Instead of writing “Her long red hair,” you might say “Her hair fluttered in the wind like a flickering flame.”
• A description like “He stood tall like a proud oak tree” conveys a lot about a person’s appearance in just a few words.

Describe characters to fit the tone of your writing. For instance, if you're writing with a humorous tone, use playful language to describe the character. If the scene is tense and dramatic, avoid using humorous metaphors in character descriptions.

• For example, consider the difference between “his eyes flashed like a knife” versus “his eyes darted like those of Thị Màu.”

Describe actions that may reveal physical traits. By using a character's actions to hint at their appearance, you can eliminate the need for direct descriptive sentences. Combine figurative language to help readers visualize the character.

• For example: “He glided through the crowd like a wave licking the sandcastle as the tide pulled back.”
• Or: “She quietly weaved through the crowd like water slipping through cracks in the sidewalk.”

Leave something for the reader to imagine. You don’t need to describe every tiny detail of a character! Provide a rough sketch of their main physical features and let the reader fill in the blanks with their imagination.

• The less relevant a feature is to the character, the less you should mention it. If the character’s height or hair color isn’t crucial, let the reader decide!

• Follow a consistent order when identifying a person’s features, as this will make it easier to remember.
• Try to identify the most prominent trait of the person you want to describe. Take a step back and note the first thing you notice about them, such as bright-colored hair, notable height, or something unusual they're wearing.
• Be discreet when observing others, as staring is rude, and looking someone up and down could spark a confrontation—especially if their partner is watching you too!
• Enhance your descriptions with color. The color of clothes, shoes, eyes, hair, skin, etc., can help reinforce your memory of the person.