慾
covetousness, greed, passion, desire, craving
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- ヨク
Kun'yomi
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Meaning
慾 centers on intense, often excessive inner drives: covetousness, greed, passion, desire, and craving all point to a heart overwhelmed by wanting.
Most common words using 慾
- 名誉慾めいよよく
love of fame
Study
Etymology
慾 combines 欲 (desire, greed) with 心 (heart), reinforcing the idea of strong emotional craving. The exact historical development is uncertain, but it likely served to emphasize the heart-centered nature of desire.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 欲 already means desire, and the bottom 心 is the heart. Picture a heart so full of wanting that it needs an extra heart underneath to contain all the greed and passion.
Reading mnemonic
For ヨク, imagine a greedy person eyeing a yoke of oxen and craving them: yoke -> ヨク, and the desire is so strong it weighs on the heart.