Translation guide
The English word "greedy" covers a range of meanings from excessive desire for food to selfish desire for money, power, or more. In Japanese, different words and expressions are used depending on what the greed is for and the context.
Expressing excessive desire to eat or drink, often in a negative or self-deprecating way.
A common, slightly childish or self-deprecating term for someone who loves to eat a lot or is always thinking about food. Often used for oneself or affectionately for others.
I'm such a greedy eater, so I end up overeating.
Refers to eating large quantities, often used in competitive eating contexts or to describe someone with a huge appetite.
He's a big eater; he ate three pizzas by himself.
An onomatopoeic adverb describing eating greedily or wolfing down food. Can also imply being overly eager or desperate for something.
Eating greedily is bad manners.
Literally 'greedy', but when applied to food, it often means taking more than one's share or being selfish about food. More commonly used for non-food greed.
Don't be greedy and take three pieces of cake.
Desiring money or possessions excessively, often with a negative moral judgment.
The most common and versatile word for 'greedy' in the sense of wanting more than one needs or deserves, especially money or things.
He's greedy, so he never misses even the smallest profit.
A stronger, more formal term implying avarice or rapaciousness. Often used in serious contexts like business or politics.
Literally 'dirty with money', this phrase describes someone who is stingy, money-grubbing, or overly attached to money.
A colloquial, somewhat rough term for being greedy, especially in a shrewd or calculating way. Often used in Kansai dialect but understood nationwide.
Excessive ambition or desire for control, recognition, or achievement.
Describes someone with deep, insatiable desires, often for power, fame, or success. More intense than 欲張り.
Greedy politicians don't think about the people.
Literally 'ambitious person', but can carry a negative nuance of being ruthlessly greedy for power or status.
As with money, 強欲 can apply to power or status, implying rapaciousness.
Eager to acquire knowledge, experiences, or other non-material things, sometimes positively.
Can be negative (greed) but is often used positively to mean 'voracious' or 'insatiable' for learning, knowledge, or improvement.
He is greedy for knowledge and reads many books every day.
Can be used for non-material greed, like wanting to do too many things at once.
Focusing on one's own benefit without regard for others, often in sharing situations.
While primarily meaning 'sly' or 'unfair', it is often used when someone takes more than their fair share, like a greedy act.
It's greedy (unfair) to take the biggest piece of cake for yourself.
Directly means taking more than one's share.
In computer science, a greedy algorithm makes locally optimal choices.
The standard term for 'greedy algorithm' in Japanese.
This problem can be solved with a greedy algorithm.
The loanword version, also commonly used.
欲張り (よくばり) is the most common, everyday word for greedy, often used for food, money, or selfishness. 強欲 (ごうよく) is stronger and more formal, implying avarice or rapaciousness, often in business or politics. 貪欲 (どんよく) can be negative but is frequently positive for voracious learning or ambition. Choose based on intensity and context.
While 欲張り can be used for food, it often sounds like 'selfish with food'. For simply eating a lot or loving food, 食いしん坊 or 大食い are more natural. Using 欲張り for a person who enjoys eating may sound judgmental.
その企業の強欲な経営方針が批判された。
The company's greedy management policies were criticized.
That person is greedy for money, so I don't want to be friends.
がめつい商売をするな。
Don't do greedy business.
彼は野心家で、出世のためには手段を選ばない。
He's greedy for success and will do anything to get ahead.
強欲な権力者が国を支配している。
Greedy power-holders rule the country.
欲張っていろんな趣味に手を出すと、どれも中途半端になるよ。
If you get greedy and try too many hobbies, you'll end up half-baked in all of them.
そんなに欲張ると、みんなに嫌われるよ。
If you're that greedy, everyone will dislike you.
A greedy algorithm does not always guarantee the optimal solution.