Korean word

욕심

Pronunciation

Romanizationyokssim

Meaning

  • noungreed

Example

그는 욕심이 많다.keu neun yok ssi mi man ta

He is very greedy.

Illustration for 욕심 (greed)

More examples

그는 욕심을 참아서 손해를 본다.keu neun yok ssi meul cha ma seo son hae reul pon da

He suffers a loss because he restrains his greed.

Core concept

Wanting more for oneself, with the feeling ranging from ordinary desire to selfish excess.

Common phrases

  • 욕심을 내다yok ssi meul nae da

    get greedy

  • 욕심을 참다yok ssi meul cham tta

    restrain one's greed

  • 욕심이 지나치다yok ssi mi chi na chi da

    be excessively greedy

Similar words

욕구yokkku: Wanting something to satisfy a physical or emotional need is a basic human desire.
탐욕tamyok: An endless desire for personal gain, especially money or power, keeps pushing a person to seek more.

Definition in Korean

자기 이익이나 만족을 위해 더 많은 것을 바라거나 추구하는 마음.cha gi i i gi na man jo geul wi hae teo ma neun keo seul pa ra geo na chu gu ha neun ma eum

Word origin

Its formation combines the Sino-Korean element for desire with the element for mind, making the word easy to connect with a mind driven by wanting.

Usage tips

  • In Korean, this word can describe a personal tendency without making a harsh judgment, so the speaker's tone matters.

Other meanings

  • desirenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 욕심쟁이yokssimjaengigreedy personnoun
  • 욕심스럽다yokssimseureopttagreedyadjective
  • 욕심내다yokssimnaedabe greedyverb

Word lists with this word