欲(よく)

よく

noun

desire, greed, appetite

1. desire, want, appetite, craving

A natural human desire or want, such as the desire for food, material things, knowledge, or recognition. Can be neutral or positive depending on context.

食欲(しょくよく)がない。

I have no appetite.

知識(ちしき)欲(よく)が旺盛(おうせい)な子(こ)どもだ。

The child has a strong thirst for knowledge.

人間(にんげん)の欲(よく)には限(かぎ)りがないと言(い)われる。

It is said that human desire knows no bounds.

2. greed, avarice, covetousness

Excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions. Carries a negative moral judgment.

欲(よく)を出(だ)すな。

Don't be greedy.

欲(よく)の深(ふか)い人(ひと)は信用(しんよう)されない。

Greedy people are not trusted.

欲(よく)に目(め)がくらんで、大切(たいせつ)なものを見失(みうしな)ってしまった。

Blinded by greed, I lost sight of what was important.

Usage

欲(よく) is often used as a suffix to form compound words for specific types of desire: 食欲(しょくよく) (appetite), 性欲(せいよく) (sexual desire), 物欲(ぶつよく) (materialism), 知識欲(ちしきよく) (thirst for knowledge), 支配欲(しはいよく) (desire for control). As a standalone word, it can be neutral or negative depending on context.

Common collocations

欲(よく)が深(ふか)い: greedy, avaricious
欲(よく)を出(だ)す: to get greedy
欲(よく)に目(め)がくらむ: to be blinded by greed
欲(よく)が出(で)る: greed emerges
欲(よく)のない: unselfish, without greed
欲(よく)張(ば)り: greedy person

Compounds

食欲(しょくよく): appetite
性欲(せいよく): sexual desire
物欲(ぶつよく): material desire
独占欲(どくせんよく): possessiveness
三大欲求(さんだいよっきゅう): three basic desires (food, sleep, sex)

Related Words

Related: 欲求(よっきゅう) (desire, craving (psychological))

Related: 欲望(よくぼう) (desire, lust (stronger))

general

Added 2026.2.23 21:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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