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Kotomora

貪

covet, indulge in

StatusJōyō · secondary schoolStrokes11

Readings

On'yomi

  • タン
  • ドン
  • トン

Kun'yomi

  • むさぼ.る

Meaning

貪 centers on an intense, often excessive desire: coveting what others have or indulging greedily in something.

Most common words using 貪

  • 貪欲どんよく
    N1

    greedy; avaricious; covetous

  • 貪るむさぼる
    N1

    to covet; to crave; to be greedy for; to hunger for; to lust insatiably for

  • 貪たん

    coveting

  • 貪食どんしょく

    voracity; ravenousness

  • 快を貪るかいをむさぼる

    to enjoy oneself to the full

  • 無貪むとん

    non-craving; non-coveting

  • 突慳貪つっけんどん

    blunt; curt; brusque

  • 貪り尽くすむさぼりつくす

    to consume greedily

  • 貪り食うむさぼりくう

    to eat greedily; to devour; to wolf down; to gobble up

  • 貪り食らうむさぼりくらう

    to devour greedily

  • 貪婪どんらん

    avarice; greed

  • 貪官汚吏たんかんおり

    corrupt government official

  • 貪愛とんあい

    attachment; craving

  • 貪戻たんれい

    avariciousness and inhumanity

  • 貪欲とんよく

    raga (desire)

  • 貪欲法どんよくほう

    greedy algorithm

  • 貪汚たんお

    greed; corruption

  • 貪瞋痴とんじんち

    the three kilesas that poison the heart of man (greed, hatred and delusion)

  • 貪食細胞どんしょくさいぼう

    phagocyte

Explore all words using 貪 →

Study

Etymology

貪 combines 今 (now) with 貝 (shell/money), suggesting a desire to have wealth immediately. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the component combination points to covetousness.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 今 means 'now', and the bottom 貝 is a shell, an old form of money. Picture someone who sees money and immediately wants it for themselves—that's coveting.

Reading mnemonic

For タン, imagine a greedy person eyeing a tan-colored treasure chest: tan -> タン, and they can't stop coveting it.