むさぼる

む

さ

ぼ

る

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

covet; crave; lust after

usually written using kana alone

Strong, often negative desire for something, such as money, power, or pleasure. Implies an insatiable, greedy longing.

彼かれは権けん力りょくをむさぼるように求もとめた。
He sought power as if craving it greedily.
富とみ

を

むさぼる

人ひと

は

、

決けっ

して

満まん

足ぞく

し

ない

。

People who covet wealth are never satisfied.

2

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

indulge in; do ceaselessly; devour (books, etc.)

usually written using kana alone

Used for immersing oneself in an activity with intense, almost greedy enthusiasm, especially reading or learning. Often appears as 読書をむさぼる or 知識をむさぼる.

彼かれは休やすみの間あいだ、読どく書しょをむさぼった。
He devoured books during the holidays.
子こ供どもの頃ころ、図と書しょ館かんで知ち識しきをむさぼるように本ほんを読よんだ。
As a child, I read books in the library as if devouring knowledge.

3

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

eat greedily; devour

usually written using kana alone

Literal or figurative eating with intense greed; often implies wolfing down food without restraint.

空くう腹ふくのあまり、彼かれは料りょう理りをむさぼるように食たべた。
So hungry was he that he devoured the food greedily.