self-interest; selfish desire
Refers to personal greed or desires that disregard others; often used in critical or moral contexts.
Politicians should work for the people, setting aside self-interest.
His actions are based on selfish desire.
欲 is a general word for desire or greed, not necessarily selfish; 私欲 specifically implies personal, often unethical, self-interest.
Standard kanji form; used in news and formal contexts.
Rarely used kanji form; 慾 is a variant of 欲.
Compound of 私 (private, personal) and 欲 (desire, greed). The spelling 私慾 uses the older variant 慾 for 欲.