Japanese word

欲

Pronunciation

Romajiyoku

Meaning

  • noundesire

Example

もっと欲が出てきました。mo tto yoku ga de te ki ma shi ta

I have started wanting more.

Illustration for 欲 (desire)

More examples

欲を抑えるために、必要な物だけを買います。yoku o osa e ru ta me ni hitsu yō na mono da ke o ka i ma su

To control my desires, I buy only what I need.

Core concept

It expresses an inner drive to obtain more of something, whether the wish is moderate or excessive.

Common phrases

  • 欲が出るyoku ga de ru

    start wanting more

  • 欲を抑えるyoku o osa e ru

    control desire

  • 欲に負けるyoku ni ma ke ru

    give in to desire

Similar words

欲望yokubō: A powerful desire to obtain or possess something, often with excess.
願いnegai: A wish for something to happen or be granted.
欲求yokkyū: A strong inner need or urge for something.

Definition in Japanese

何かを手に入れたい、または満たしたいと強く願う気持ち。nan ka o te ni i re ta i ma ta wa mi ta shi ta i to tsuyo ku nega u ki mo chi

Word origin

The word 欲 (yoku, "desire") uses the on-reading of the kanji 欲 (yoku, "desire"), a Chinese-derived character whose basic sense is wanting something.

Usage tips

  • Japanese 欲 (yoku) covers both ordinary desire and greed, so its tone depends on whether the speaker sees wanting more as reasonable or excessive.

Other meanings

  • greednoun

Opposites

  • 無欲muyokulack of desirena-adjective

Related words

Word lists with this word