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欲の皮が張る (よくのかわがはる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-ru)
to be greedy ; to be shamelessly greedy
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'the skin of greed stretches', used to describe someone whose greed is so excessive it becomes brazen or shameless. Often used in a critical or exasperated tone.
欲よく の 皮かわ が 張は っ た 要よう 求きゅう に は 、 もう うんざり だ 。
I'm fed up with these brazenly greedy demands.
Kanji 欲 longing, covetousness, greed 張 counter for bows & stringed instruments, stretch, spread Similar words 欲よく 張ば り 欲張り is a more common, straightforward noun/adjective for 'greedy person' or 'greediness', while 欲の皮が張る is a vivid, idiomatic expression emphasizing shameless excess.
強ごう 欲よく 強欲 is a formal noun/adjective for 'avarice' or 'greed', often used in serious contexts, whereas 欲の皮が張る is a colloquial, figurative phrase.
Etymology The phrase combines 欲 (greed) with 皮 (skin) and 張る (to stretch), creating a metaphor of greed stretching one's skin, implying that the person's greed is so great it becomes visibly shameless. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a traditional Japanese idiom.
