Translation guide
The English word "insatiable" describes a desire or appetite that cannot be satisfied. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various adjectives, verbs, and set phrases depending on what is insatiable—curiosity, greed, hunger, ambition, etc. The most common and versatile option is 貪欲 (どんよく), but other expressions carry nuances of endlessness, bottomlessness, or specific types of craving.
底なしの食欲
insatiable appetite
飽くことを知らない好奇心
insatiable curiosity
Expressing that someone has an unquenchable desire for money, power, success, knowledge, etc.
An adjective/noun meaning 'greedy' or 'avid,' but often used for insatiable desire in a broad sense. Can be positive (e.g., for knowledge) or negative (e.g., for money).
彼は知識に対して貪欲だ。
He has an insatiable thirst for knowledge.
彼女の成功への貪欲さには驚かされる。
I'm amazed by her insatiable drive for success.
Literally 'not knowing to get tired of,' this phrase directly means 'insatiable' and is very natural. It modifies nouns.
彼は飽くことを知らない好奇心を持っている。
He has an insatiable curiosity.
Means 'bottomless,' used metaphorically for insatiable appetites or desires. Often paired with words like 食欲 (appetite) or 欲 (desire).
Means 'never-ending' or 'inexhaustible.' Used for things like curiosity, energy, or desire that never run out.
彼女の尽きることのない情熱がプロジェクトを成功させた。
Her insatiable passion made the project a success.
Describing someone who eats or drinks excessively and never seems full.
A common phrase meaning 'appetite is bottomless.'
彼は食欲が底なしだ。
He has an insatiable appetite.
A noun meaning 'big eater' or 'glutton.' Implies an insatiable appetite.
彼は大食漢で、いくら食べても満足しない。
He's a glutton; no matter how much he eats, he's never satisfied.
A straightforward phrase: 'no matter how much (he) eats, (he) is not satisfied.'
彼女はいくら食べても満足しない。
She has an insatiable appetite; she's never satisfied no matter how much she eats.
Describing someone with an unquenchable sexual appetite.
An adjective/noun meaning 'lewd' or 'lustful,' often implying insatiable sexual desire. Can be strong or derogatory.
彼女は淫乱だという噂だ。
Rumor has it she's insatiable.
Literally 'sexual desire is strong.' A more neutral way to say someone has a high libido, which can imply insatiability.
彼は性欲が強くて、毎日セックスしたがる。
He has an insatiable sex drive and wants to have sex every day.
Expressing an unquenchable desire to learn or know more.
Means 'thirst for knowledge is vigorous.' A very natural way to describe intellectual insatiability.
彼は知識欲が旺盛で、いつも本を読んでいる。
He has an insatiable thirst for knowledge and is always reading books.
Literally 'curiosity never runs out.' A direct way to say insatiable curiosity.
彼女の好奇心は尽きることがない。
Her curiosity is insatiable.
Directly translating 'insatiable' as 飽きない (akinai, 'not get bored') is unnatural. Use set phrases like 飽くことを知らない or 尽きることのない.
貪欲 (どんよく) is for desire/ambition, while 底なし (そこなし) is often for appetites (food, drink). 底なし can also be used metaphorically for greed, but 貪欲 is more common for abstract desires.
彼の底なしの食欲には驚く。
His insatiable appetite is astonishing.