欲 Kanji – longing
The Japanese kanji 欲 can mean longing, covetousness, greed, passion, desire, craving.
Meaning and Readings
How is 欲 read?
欲 has the onyomi reading ヨク and the kunyomi readings ほっする, ほしい.
In romaji, these readings can be written as yoku, hosuru, hoshii.
Common Japanese Words Using 欲
These common Japanese words contain 欲. Select linked kanji to explore their meanings and readings.
- 食欲（しょくよく） — appetite (for food)
- 性欲（せいよく） — sexual desire, sex drive, lust
- 無欲（むよく） — unselfish, disinterested, unavaricious, free of avarice
- 欲（よく） — greed, craving, desire, appetite, hunger, avarice, wants
- 欲しい（ほしい） — wanting (to have), desiring, wishing for
- 欲する（ほっする） — to want, to desire
- 欲求（よっきゅう） — desire, want, will, wish, urge, craving
- 欲張り（よくばり） — greed, avarice, covetousness, greedy person
- 欲張る（よくばる） — to be greedy, to be avaricious, to want badly, to desire intensely, to covet
- 欲望（よくぼう） — desire, appetite, lust