衝しょう動どう

しょ

う

ど

う

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

noun

impulse; urge; impetus

A sudden, often irrational desire or drive to act. Common in psychological and everyday contexts.

衝しょう動どうに駆かられて、彼かれは叫さけんでしまった。
Driven by impulse, he ended up shouting.
買かい物ものの衝しょう動どうを抑おさえるのが難むずかしい。
It's hard to control the urge to shop.

See all 41 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

衝しょう動どうを抑おさえるto suppress an impulse
彼かれは叫さけびたい衝しょう動どうを抑おさえた。
He suppressed the urge to shout.
衝しょう動どうに駆かられるto be driven by an impulse
彼かの女じょは突とつ然ぜん、旅たびに出でたいという衝しょう動どうに駆かられた。
She was suddenly seized by the urge to travel.
衝しょう動どうを感かんじるto feel an urge
そのニュースを聞きいて、殴なぐりたい衝しょう動どうを感かんじた。
Hearing the news, I felt an urge to punch something.
衝しょう動どうに負まけるto give in to an impulse
彼かれはつい衝しょう動どうに負まけて、高こう価かな車くるまを買かってしまった。
He gave in to impulse and ended up buying an expensive car.

Kanji

衝collide, brunt, highway
動move, motion, change

Related words

欲よく望ぼうN1
欲望 is a broader, more sustained desire or appetite, while 衝動 is a sudden, momentary impulse to act.
本ほん能のうN1
本能 refers to an innate, biological instinct, whereas 衝動 is a psychological urge that need not be instinctual.
欲よっ求きゅうN1
欲求 is a general craving or need that can be lasting, while 衝動 is specifically a sudden, hard-to-resist urge.

Don't confuse with

衝しょう突とつN2
衝突 shares the kanji 衝 with 衝動 but means 'collision' or 'clash', not an inner urge.

Word family· 8

性せい衝しょう動どう
sexual urge; sexual impulse
衝しょう動どう的てき
impulsive
性せい的てき衝しょう動どう
sexual urge; libido
攻こう撃げき衝しょう動どう
aggressive impulse; aggressive drive; aggressive instinct
衝しょう動どう行こう為い
impulsive act; act on impulse

Show 3 more

衝しょう動どう買がい
impulse buying; impulse purchase
衝しょう動どうタービン
impulse turbine
衝しょう動どう制せい御ぎょ障しょう害がい
impulse control disorder; ICD

Etymology

Compound of 衝 (しょう, 'to collide, thrust') and 動 (どう, 'movement'), suggesting a forceful inner movement or drive. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination is conventionally associated with the meaning of a sudden impulse.