野 心(やしん)

やしん

noun

ambition; aspiration (often with negative nuance)

1. ambition; aspiration; ulterior motive

A strong desire to achieve something, especially power, wealth, or status. Unlike the English word 'ambition,' 野心 often carries a negative or suspicious nuance — implying aggressive, self-serving, or potentially unscrupulous motives. Composed of 野 (wild/field) + 心 (heart).

彼(かれ)は野心(やしん)のある人(ひと)だ。

He is an ambitious person.

政治的(せいじてき)な野心(やしん)を隠(かく)そうともしない。

He doesn't even try to hide his political ambition.

野心(やしん)に燃(も)える若者(わかもの)が次々(つぎつぎ)と都会(とかい)を目指(めざ)した時代(じだい)があった。

There was an era when ambitious young people flocked to the city one after another.

Usage

野心(やしん) typically carries a negative or cautious nuance in Japanese, unlike the generally positive English word "ambition." It often implies scheming, aggression, or overreaching. For positive ambition, 志(こころざし) or 向上心(こうじょうしん) are more appropriate.

Common collocations

野心(やしん)を抱(いだ)く (harbor ambition)
野心(やしん)に燃(も)える (burn with ambition)
野心(やしん)家(か) (an ambitious person — often negative)
野心(やしん)的(てき)な (ambitious — often aggressive)
政治的(せいじてき)野心(やしん) (political ambition)

Similar words

向上心(こうじょうしん) is a positive word meaning "desire for self-improvement." 志(こころざし) means "aspiration" or "aim" with a noble or idealistic nuance. 大志(たいし) means "great ambition" and is generally positive.

Related Words

Compare: 向上心(こうじょうしん) (positive self-improvement)

Compare: 志(こころざし) (noble aspiration)

Compare: 出世欲(しゅっせよく) (desire for career advancement)

Compare: 大志(たいし) (great ambition)

general

Added 2026.3.8 18:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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