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Kotomora

欲

longing, covetousness, greed, passion, desire, craving

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • ヨク

Kun'yomi

  • ほっ.する
  • ほ.しい

Meaning

欲 centers on a strong inner pull toward something one lacks: longing, craving, or desire. The meanings extend naturally to greed and covetousness as excessive forms of that same wanting.

Most common words using 欲

20 of 119
  • 欲しいほしい
    N5

    wanting (to have); desiring; wishing for

  • 性欲せいよく

    sexual desire; sex drive; lust

  • 欲求よっきゅう
    N1

    desire; want; will; wish; urge; craving

  • 欲よく
    N1

    greed; craving; desire; appetite; hunger; avarice; wants

  • 欲望よくぼう
    N1

    desire; appetite; lust

  • 食欲しょくよく
    N3

    appetite (for food)

  • 意欲いよく
    N2

    will; desire; eagerness; interest; drive; motivation; urge; ambition

  • 欲情よくじょう

    passion; passions; (sexual) desire; craving

  • 強欲ごうよく

    greedy; avaricious; rapacious; insatiable

  • 貪欲どんよく
    N1

    greedy; avaricious; covetous

  • 欲張りよくばり
    N2

    greed; avarice; covetousness; greedy person

  • 欲するほっする
    N1

    to want; to desire

  • 物欲ぶつよく

    worldly desires; materialistic desires

  • 禁欲きんよく

    abstinence; self-denial; celibacy; asceticism; abnegation

  • 私欲しよく

    self-interest; selfish desire

  • 欲張るよくばる

    to be greedy; to be avaricious; to want badly; to desire intensely; to covet

  • 肉欲にくよく

    lust; lusts of the flesh; animal passions; carnal desires

  • 愛欲あいよく

    passion; sexual desire; lust

  • 無欲むよく
    N1

    unselfish; disinterested; unavaricious; free of avarice

  • 情欲じょうよく

    passions; sexual desire; lust

Explore all words using 欲 →

Study

Etymology

欲 combines 谷 (valley) and 欠 (lack, yawn). The idea is a hollow or lack that needs filling, expressing desire or craving.

Meaning mnemonic

A valley (谷) is an empty space, and a person yawning (欠) shows a lack of air. Together they show a hollow feeling that wants to be filled: desire, longing, craving.

Reading mnemonic

For ヨク, imagine a yoke of oxen pulling a cart full of desired goods: yoke -> ヨク, and the craving for those goods is strong.