出世欲(しゅっせよく)

しゅっせよく
noun
desire for career advancement; ambition
emotion
1. desire for career advancement; ambition (for success); drive to get ahead
A strong personal desire to rise in rank, status, or position — especially at a company or in society. Has a mildly negative or neutral nuance; "ambition" in a pure, positive sense is more often expressed with 向上心(こうじょうしん).
出世欲(しゅっせよく)が強(つよ)い。
To have a strong desire for success.
彼(かれ)にはあまり出世欲(しゅっせよく)がないらしい。
He apparently doesn't have much desire to climb the career ladder.
若(わか)いうちは出世欲(しゅっせよく)に燃(も)えていたが、今(いま)は家族(かぞく)との時間(じかん)を大切(たいせつ)にしている。
When I was young I burned with ambition, but now I value time with my family.
最近(さいきん)の若手(わかて)社員(しゃいん)は、昔(むかし)に比(くら)べて出世欲(しゅっせよく)が薄(うす)いと言(い)われている。
It is said that compared to the past, today's young employees have weaker ambitions for advancement.

Composed of 出世(しゅっせ) (rising in the world, career success) and 欲(よく) (desire, drive). Refers to the desire to rise through the ranks of a company or of society — to get promoted, gain status, and earn a higher position.

Register & nuance

The word can be neutral or slightly negative depending on context. Someone described as having strong 出世欲(しゅっせよく) may be admired for their drive, but can also be seen as overly competitive or self-interested. For a more consistently positive term meaning general self-improvement ambition, use 向上心(こうじょうしん).

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 向上心(こうじょうしん): desire for self-improvement — always positive; broader than career ambition
  • 野心(やしん): ambition (often bold or ruthless) — a stronger word; may suggest scheming
  • 功名心(こうみょうしん): desire for fame or achievement — emphasizes wanting to be recognized
  • 上昇志向(じょうしょうしこう): upward-striving orientation — a more analytical, sociological term for the same drive

Related Words

Compare: 向上心(こうじょうしん) (desire for self-improvement)
Compare: 野心(やしん) (ambition)
general
Added 2026.4.14 9:46 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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