野望(やぼう)

やぼう
noun
ambition; aspiration
1. ambition; aspiration; wild ambition
A strong desire to achieve something, often implying grand or unrealistic goals.
世界(せかい)征服(せいふく)の野望(やぼう)を持(も)つ。
To have ambitions of world domination.
野望(やぼう)を抱(いだ)く。
To harbor ambitions.
彼(かれ)の野望(やぼう)は潰(つい)えた。
His ambitions were crushed.

野望(やぼう) means ambitious desire, often implying something grand, audacious, or potentially reckless. The kanji 野(や) (wild) + 望(ぼう) (desire) suggest untamed ambition.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 野望(やぼう)を抱(いだ)く: to harbor ambitions
  • 野望(やぼう)に燃(も)える: to burn with ambition
  • 野望(やぼう)を達成(たっせい)する: to achieve one's ambitions
  • 野望(やぼう)が潰(つい)える: ambitions are crushed

NUANCE:
Unlike 志(こころざし) (noble aspiration) or 目標(もくひょう) (goal), 野望(やぼう) often carries a negative or dramatic tone — large-scale schemes, power grabs, or conquests. Common in historical, political, and gaming contexts.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 志(こころざし): aspiration, ambition (positive, noble)
  • 大志(たいし): great ambition (positive, lofty)
  • 欲望(よくぼう): desire, craving (more personal/selfish)

Related Words

Synonym: 志(こころざし) (noble aspiration)
Synonym: 欲望(よくぼう) (desire, craving)
Related: 目標(もくひょう) (goal, target)
general
Added 2026.1.16 16:49 · Revised 2026.4.14 16:13
05500/05528_yabou