Translation guide
The English verb 'covet' means to strongly desire something, often something that belongs to someone else, with a nuance of envy or wrongful longing. In Japanese, expressing this concept depends on the intensity, formality, and whether the desire is for a possession, a person, or an abstract quality. Direct translations exist but are often literary or biblical; everyday Japanese uses more common words for strong desire, sometimes with added context to convey the envious or inappropriate aspect.
Expressing a strong, envious desire for someone else's possession, success, or situation, often with a sense of it being improper or obsessive.
The most direct equivalent for 'covet' in the sense of envying and desiring what someone else has. It implies a mix of admiration and longing, often with a slightly negative or pitiful connotation. Commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese.
彼は友達の成功を羨んでいる。
He covets his friend's success.
隣の芝生を羨んでも仕方がない。
It's no use coveting the grass on the other side.
Stronger than 羨む, with a clear negative nuance of jealousy and resentment. Use when the desire is mixed with ill will or bitterness. Often used for personal relationships or abilities.
彼女は同僚の昇進を妬んでいる。
She covets her colleague's promotion (with jealousy).
A common verb meaning 'to want' or 'to desire' something tangible. To convey 'covet,' it often needs context showing the object belongs to another or the desire is excessive. Suitable for casual speech.
子供はいつも他人のおもちゃを欲しがる。
Children always covet other people's toys.
Literally 'to be dazzled,' used idiomatically to mean being blinded by desire or greed, often for money or power. Implies a loss of judgment due to coveting.
金に目がくらんで悪事を働いた。
He committed a crime because he was blinded by coveting money.
Expressing a very strong, sometimes obsessive desire for something, not necessarily belonging to someone else. This can be for objects, experiences, or abstract things.
A formal verb meaning 'to long for' or 'to crave.' It conveys intense, earnest desire without the negative envy of 'covet.' Suitable for written or formal contexts.
彼は自由を切望している。
He covets freedom.
Literally 'to thirst for,' this is a strong, somewhat literary word for craving or yearning. It implies an almost desperate desire. Often used for abstract ideals.
人々は平和を渇望している。
People covet peace.
A common colloquial phrase meaning 'I want it no matter what.' It expresses a strong, almost covetous desire in everyday speech. Can be used for material things.
あの車がどうしても欲しい。
I covet that car.
Literally 'to drool,' this is a very strong, somewhat vulgar expression for coveting something, often used in the phrase 垂涎の的 (an object of desire). Rare in daily conversation.
その美術品は収集家の垂涎の的だ。
That artwork is an object coveted by collectors.
Specifically referring to the sin of coveting as prohibited in the Ten Commandments. This requires a set phrase or direct translation from religious texts.
The standard Japanese translation of 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house' from Exodus 20:17. This is a direct biblical quote and the most recognized phrasing.
聖書には「隣人の家を欲しがってはならない」と書いてある。
The Bible says, 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.'
A verb meaning 'to covet greedily' or 'to lust after,' often used in religious contexts to describe sinful desire. It has a strong negative connotation of avarice.
Simply using 欲しい (hoshii, 'want') does not capture the envious or excessive nuance of 'covet.' To convey coveting, you need to add context (e.g., 他人のを欲しがる) or use stronger words like 羨む or 妬む.
羨む (urayamu) is envy mixed with admiration, often seen as a natural human feeling. 妬む (netamu) is jealousy with resentment and ill will. Use 妬む when the feeling is destructive or malicious.
彼は隣の人の新車を羨んだ。
He coveted his neighbor's new car.
彼女はその劇の主役を切望している。
She covets the lead role in the play.
Those who covet wealth will perish.