(こうきしん)

こうきしん
noun
curiosity
1. curiosity; inquisitiveness
A strong desire to know or learn about something.
好奇心(こうきしん)(つよ)子供(こども)だ。
He's a curious child.
好奇心(こうきしん)から質問(しつもん)した。
I asked out of curiosity.
好奇心(こうきしん)旺盛(おうせい)性格(せいかく)
A personality full of curiosity.

好奇心(こうきしん) refers to a strong desire to learn or know about things. Usually positive, describing intellectual or exploratory interest, but can also imply nosy or meddlesome curiosity depending on context.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 好奇心(こうきしん)(つよ)い: very curious
  • 好奇心(こうきしん)旺盛(おうせい): brimming with curiosity
  • 好奇心(こうきしん)から: out of curiosity
  • 好奇心(こうきしん)()たす: to satisfy one's curiosity
  • 好奇心(こうきしん)をそそる: to arouse curiosity

KANJI BREAKDOWN:
(こう) (like) + () (strange/unusual) + (しん) (heart/mind) — literally 'a heart that likes the unusual.'

PROVERB:
好奇心(こうきしん)(ねこ)(ころ)す (Curiosity killed the cat).