How to say "craving" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 欲よくnoun, noun (suffix)This is really 'greed': craving as desire for money, possessions, or gratification. For an ordinary hankering, say for a favorite food, it is seldom the word you want.
- 渇望かつぼうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbAn intense, ardent craving — longing or thirsting for something one strongly desires, often something abstract such as success, freedom, or recognition.
- 欲求よっきゅうnoun, suru verb, transitive verbDesire or want as an inner urge — what one wishes for or feels driven toward. For 'craving' it is a looser fit: it names the desire itself rather than an intense hankering.
- 愛あいnounThe basic meaning is love; the 'craving' sense is the Buddhist one — craving as attachment, the thirst that ties beings to suffering. It is seldom the word you want for everyday cravings.
- 渇きかわきnounThirst, literal or figurative — a craving for love, knowledge, or the like. Use it when the longing is naturally pictured as a thirst or hunger for something.
Choose 渇望 for an ardent craving or longing, 「渇き」 for a thirst for love or knowledge, 欲 for greedy appetite, 欲求 for desire as an urge or want, and 愛 only in the Buddhist sense.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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