無欲・無慾|むよくmuyoku[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
無欲無欲 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners when writing the word.
無慾無慾 is a rarely used kanji variant of 無欲; beginners should normally use 無欲 instead.
Definitions
- na-adjective, no-adjectiveunselfish; disinterested; unavaricious; free of avarice
Conjugation
| Plain form | 無欲（むよく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 無欲です（むよくです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 無欲ではない（むよくではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 無欲ではありません（むよくではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 無欲だった（むよくだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 無欲ではなかった（むよくではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 無欲で（むよくで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 無欲に（むよくに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 無欲なら（むよくなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym無私むしNeutralLack of selfishness — not seeking personal gain, as in 「公平無私」. 「無欲」 instead means having no greed for anything at all.
- Antonym欲深よくふかCasualStrongly colloquial term for being greedy; the direct opposite of 「無欲」.
- Antonym強欲ごうよくNeutralExtremely greedy, with a strongly negative nuance; the opposite of 「無欲」.
Use 「無欲」 for having no greed or desires, 「無私」 for being free of selfish motives. For greed, 「欲深」 is the colloquial choice; 「強欲」 suggests extreme, strongly negative greed.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
