Translation guide
A strong desire for something, often food, a substance, or an experience. Japanese expresses this with nouns, verbs, and set phrases depending on what is craved and the intensity.
Expressing a strong desire to eat or drink something particular.
The most direct and natural way to say you crave a specific food. Attach to the food name.
I'm craving ramen.
I'm really craving chocolate right now.
Use for drinks. Same pattern as 食べたい.
I'm craving a cold beer.
Adverb meaning 'irresistibly' or 'for no particular reason'. Often used with 食べたい/飲みたい to emphasize a sudden, strong craving.
Literally 'in the mood for ~'. Softer than 食べたい, often used when suggesting what to eat.
I'm in the mood for curry today.
Expressing addiction-related cravings or strong urges for a substance.
General 'I want ~'. Works for substances but can sound blunt. Often softened in context.
Expressing a strong desire to do something, like travel, exercise, or entertainment.
Attach to the verb stem to express 'I want to do ~'. The most common way to express a craving for an activity.
I'm craving the beach.
Referring specifically to food cravings during pregnancy.
Morning sickness, but often used in the context of food aversions and cravings. Not a direct translation of 'craving', but culturally relevant.
Use 〜たい with verbs (食べたい = want to eat), and 〜欲しい with nouns (水が欲しい = want water). For cravings, 〜たい is more common for actions, while 〜欲しい can sound direct for objects.
I want to eat ramen. (craving ramen)
無性に甘いものが食べたい。
I have an irresistible craving for something sweet.
I want a cigarette. (I'm craving a smoke.)
Specifically for smoking cravings.
I'm dying for a cigarette.
Withdrawal symptoms. Used in medical or serious addiction contexts.
My hands shake from withdrawal cravings.
I'm craving a good sing-along.
Emphasizes an unbearable craving. 'I can't help but want to ~'.
I'm absolutely craving a trip.
A strong, often literary word for 'craving' or 'longing'. Used for abstract desires like freedom or success.
I'm craving freedom.
Because of morning sickness, I start craving sour things.
Literally 'appetite during pregnancy'. Used to describe unusual cravings.
My pregnancy cravings are intense; I want curry every day.
ラーメンが欲しい。
I want ramen. (could sound like you want to possess it, not necessarily eat it)
The English word 'craving' is often translated as 渇望 (かつぼう) in dictionaries, but this is a formal, literary word rarely used in daily conversation about food or casual desires. Stick to 〜たい or 〜欲しい for natural speech.