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.
ラーメンが食べたい。
I'm craving ramen.
今、チョコレートがすごく食べたい。
I'm really craving chocolate right now.
Use for drinks. Same pattern as 食べたい.
冷たいビールが飲みたい。
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.
無性に甘いものが食べたい。
I have an irresistible craving for something sweet.
Literally 'in the mood for ~'. Softer than 食べたい, often used when suggesting what to eat.
今日はカレーの気分だな。
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.
タバコが欲しい。
I want a cigarette. (I'm craving a smoke.)
Specifically for smoking cravings.
タバコを吸いたくてたまらない。
I'm dying for a cigarette.
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.
海に行きたい。
I'm craving the beach.
思いっきり歌いたい。
I'm craving a good sing-along.
Emphasizes an unbearable craving. 'I can't help but want to ~'.
旅行に行きたくてたまらない。
I'm absolutely craving a trip.
A strong, often literary word for 'craving' or 'longing'. Used for abstract desires like freedom or success.
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.
つわりで酸っぱいものが食べたくなる。
Because of morning sickness, I start craving sour things.
Literally 'appetite during pregnancy'. Used to describe unusual cravings.
妊娠中の食欲がすごくて、毎日カレーが食べたい。
My pregnancy cravings are intense; I want curry every day.
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.
ラーメンが食べたい。
I want to eat ramen. (craving ramen)
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.
Withdrawal symptoms. Used in medical or serious addiction contexts.
禁断症状で手が震える。
My hands shake from withdrawal cravings.
自由を渇望している。
I'm craving freedom.