Japanese word

野心

Pronunciation

Romajiyashin

Meaning

  • nounambition

Example

彼女は大きな野心を抱いています。kano jo wa ō ki na ya shin o ida i te i ma su

She has great ambition.

Illustration for 野心 (ambition)

More examples

その計画には会社を大きく変えたいという野心があります。so no kei kaku ni wa gai sha o ō ki ku ka e ta i to i u ya shin ga a ri ma su

The plan reflects an ambition to transform the company.

Core concept

Centers on a powerful desire that pushes a person beyond present limits toward major achievement.

Common phrases

  • 野心を抱くya shin o ida ku

    harbor ambition

  • 野心を持つya shin o mo tsu

    have ambition

  • 野心を燃やすya shin o mo ya su

    be driven by ambition

Similar words

野望yabō: A strong desire for great success or power, often with a bold or worldly aim.
大志taishi: A lofty aim to accomplish something important and lasting.
大望taibō: A great hope or aim for major success.
志kokorozashi: A lasting aim or purpose that a person commits to pursuing.

Definition in Japanese

大きな成功や地位を得ようとする強い望み。ō ki na sei kō ya chi i o e yō to su ru tsuyo i nozo mi

Word origin

野心 (yashin) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 野 (ya, "field" or "wild") and 心 (shin, "mind"), whose components suggest a desire that reaches beyond ordinary boundaries.

Usage tips

  • In English, ambitious can describe a project or plan as well as a person, so an ambitious project aims high or requires substantial effort.

Other meanings

  • aspirationnoun

Opposites

  • 無欲muyokuunambitiousna-adjective

Related words

  • 野心家yashinkaambitious personnoun
  • 野心的yashintekiambitiousna-adjective

Word lists with this word