煩 悩(ぼんのう)

ぼんのう

noun

worldly desires; earthly passions

1. worldly desires; earthly passions; cravings

In Buddhism, mental states such as greed, anger, and delusion that cause suffering and hinder enlightenment. In everyday usage, refers more broadly to temptations and desires that are hard to resist.

煩悩(ぼんのう)を捨(す)てる。

To renounce worldly desires.

ダイエット中(ちゅう)なのに甘(あま)い物(もの)が食(た)べたい。煩悩(ぼんのう)だらけだ。

I want to eat sweets even though I'm on a diet. I'm full of temptations.

大晦日(おおみそか)の除夜(じょや)の鐘(かね)は百八(ひゃくはち)つの煩悩(ぼんのう)を払(はら)うために百八回(ひゃくはっかい)鳴(な)らされる。

The New Year's Eve bell is rung 108 times to dispel the 108 worldly desires.

煩悩(ぼんのう) originates from Buddhist terminology. In Buddhist thought, there are traditionally 108 煩悩(ぼんのう), which is why the 除夜(じょや)の鐘(かね) (New Year's Eve bell) is rung 108 times.

Common collocations

煩悩(ぼんのう)を捨(す)てる (to abandon worldly desires)
煩悩(ぼんのう)を断(た)つ (to cut off worldly desires)
煩悩(ぼんのう)に打(う)ち勝(か)つ (to overcome temptation)
煩悩(ぼんのう)だらけ (full of worldly desires)

Usage

While the word comes from serious Buddhist philosophy, it is commonly used in a light, self-deprecating way in everyday speech — for example, when someone cannot resist food or shopping. The humorous tone acknowledges human weakness without deep religious connotation.

Related Words

Compare: 色欲(しきよく) (lust)

general

Added 2026.3.4 14:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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