1.
greed for food; gluttony
An exaggerated appetite or greed for food — the attitude of wanting as much (or as good) food as possible. Usually used with a light, half-joking tone, often about oneself, but can be critical when used of others. Most commonly appears in the set phrase 食い意地が張る.
食い意地が張っている。
To be greedy for food.
彼は食い意地が張っていて、人の分まで食べてしまう。
He is so greedy for food that he even eats other people's share.
ダイエットを始めたのに、食い意地が張っていて、どうしても甘いものを我慢できない。
Even though I've started dieting, I'm so greedy when it comes to food that I just can't hold back from sweets.
Composed of 食い (eating, nominalized form of 食う "to eat") and 意地 (willpower, stubbornness, pride). Literally something like "eating stubbornness." The word is most natural in the fixed expression 食い意地が張る ("one's greed for food is extended/stretched"), which means to be greedy about food.
REGISTER:
Informal and conversational. It is often used self-deprecatingly ("I'm such a glutton") and can be affectionate between friends or family. When used about others without a joking tone, it may sound mildly critical.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 食い意地が張る: to be greedy for food (set phrase)
- 食い意地の張った人: a person who is greedy for food
- 食い意地が勝つ: one's greed for food wins out (over willpower)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 食いしん坊: a glutton, a "foodie" — more affectionate; often used of children
- 意地汚い: greedy, grasping (not only about food) — harshly critical
- 大食らい: a big eater — neutral, describes quantity
- 食欲旺盛: having a strong appetite — neutral/positive