貪欲

• Reading: どんよく
• Romaji: donyoku
• Kanji breakdown: 貪 (don) — to covet, to be greedy; 欲 (yoku) — desire, greed
• Pronunciation: /doɴ.jo.kɯ/

Meaning

Greedy; avaricious; voracious. Describes an excessive, insatiable desire for wealth, power, knowledge, or achievement.

A na-adjective (and noun) combining 貪 (to covet greedily) and 欲 (desire). Unlike 強欲 (gouoku), which focuses narrowly on wealth, 貪欲 can apply positively — 貪欲に学ぶ (to learn voraciously) praises intense intellectual hunger. The word captures insatiability: the person always wants more, whether that hunger is admirable or destructive depends on context.

Examples

1. 彼は貪欲なまでに知識を吸収し、誰よりも速く成長した。 He voraciously absorbed knowledge and grew faster than anyone else.
2. 貪欲に利益を追い求めた結果、多くの部下の信頼を失った。 By greedily pursuing profits, he ended up losing the trust of many of his subordinates.
3. 優秀なアスリートほど、勝利への貪欲さを持っているものだ。 The more talented the athlete, the more they tend to have an insatiable hunger for victory.

Usage Guide

Context: business, commentary, literature, sports

Tone: intense

Origin & History

From 貪 (tan/don, to covet greedily) + 欲 (yoku, desire). Both characters are associated with excess and insatiability in Classical Chinese and Japanese literature.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal