1.
desire for material things, materialism
The desire to acquire and possess material goods. Often used with a mildly negative or self-aware nuance, suggesting excessive attachment to possessions.
物欲が強い。
To have a strong desire for material things.
最近、物欲がなくなってきた。
Lately, I've lost my desire for material things.
年をとるにつれて物欲が減り、経験にお金を使うようになった。
As I've gotten older, my desire for material things has decreased, and I've started spending money on experiences instead.
USAGE:
Commonly discussed in the context of personal values, minimalism, and consumer culture. The expression 物欲がない (to have no desire for material things) is often used as a self-description, sometimes as a humble brag. 物欲が強い (to have strong material desires) is used self-deprecatingly or to describe others.
KANJI NOTE:
物 (things, objects) + 欲 (desire, craving). A straightforward compound meaning "desire for things."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 物欲が強い: to have strong material desires
- 物欲がない: to have no desire for possessions
- 物欲を抑える: to suppress material desires
- 物欲センサー: "material desire sensor" (slang for spotting things you want to buy)