Carácter vs. personaje
While both carácter and personaje can translate to character in English, they are not interchangeable and refer to different concepts. Carácter describes personality and internal traits, while personaje refers to a figure in a narrative or a public persona.
Carácter
A2This word refers to the personality, temperament, or nature of a person, animal, or even a thing. It describes the inherent qualities and psychological traits that define how someone or something is. It can also mean a letter or symbol, as in a character for a password.
Mi abuela tiene un carácter muy dulce y paciente.
(My grandmother has a very sweet and patient character.)
Es un hombre de mal carácter, se enoja por todo.
(He is a bad-tempered man, he gets angry about everything.)
La reunión tuvo un carácter estrictamente profesional.
(The meeting had a strictly professional nature.)
El carácter de la ciudad ha cambiado mucho en los últimos años.
(The character of the city has changed a lot in recent years.)
La contraseña debe incluir al menos un carácter especial.
(The password must include at least one special character.)
Personaje
A2This word refers to a figure or individual in a story, whether it's a book, movie, play, or video game. It is a being who participates in the plot. It can also be used to describe a well-known public figure or a noteworthy, often eccentric, individual.
Mi personaje favorito de la serie es el dragón.
(My favorite character from the series is the dragon.)
El autor desarrolló un personaje principal muy complejo.
(The author developed a very complex main character.)
Para el disfraz, me vestí como un personaje de los años ochenta.
(For the costume party, I dressed up as a character from the eighties.)
Frida Kahlo fue un personaje fascinante en la historia del arte.
(Frida Kahlo was a fascinating character in art history.)
El dueño del bar es todo un personaje en el barrio.
(The owner of the bar is quite a character in the neighborhood.)
Summary
In short, the key difference is internal versus external. Carácter is the set of personality traits someone *has* (their inner nature). Personaje is the role or figure someone *is* within a narrative or in public life. Therefore, a personaje in a movie (a figure) has a specific carácter (a personality).