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

COMPOUND WORDS:

  • 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)
general
Added 2026.2.23 21:27
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