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Words Kanji Guides About

羨望 (せんぼう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

羨せん望ぼう

せ

ん

ぼ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

A strong, often longing envy; more intense and literary than 羨ましい. Used for deep admiration mixed with a desire to possess what another has.

彼かれの成せい功こうに対たいする羨せん望ぼうの念ねんを抑おさえられなかった。
I couldn't suppress my feelings of envy toward his success.

彼かの

女じょ

は

友ゆう

人じん

の

才さい

能のう

を

羨せん

望ぼう

し

て

いる

。

She envies her friend's talent.

Written forms

羨せん望ぼうUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling; the character 羨 is not a Jōyō kanji but is common in this word.
せんぼうUsage11%

Kanji

羨envious, be jealous, covet
望ambition, full moon, hope

Similar words

羨うらやましい
An i-adjective expressing everyday envy; 羨望 is a stronger, more formal noun often used in written or psychological contexts.
嫉しっ妬と
Jealousy, often with a negative, resentful nuance, especially in romantic contexts; 羨望 is more about admiration and longing.

Etymology

Compound of 羨 (sen, 'envy') and 望 (bō, 'hope, desire'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination naturally conveys a strong, longing envy.