禁欲・禁慾|きんよくkin'yoku[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Which spelling to use
禁欲禁欲 is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners; use it as your default when writing this word.
禁慾禁慾 is a rarely used kanji-only variant, so learners will seldom need to write it; use 禁欲 instead.
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbabstinence; self-denial; celibacy; asceticism; abnegation
    He practices austerities almost like a monk.
Conjugation
Dictionary form禁欲する(きんよくする)
Polite (masu)禁欲します(きんよくします)
Negative (nai)禁欲しない(きんよくしない)
polite (masen)禁欲しません(きんよくしません)
classical zu / nu禁欲せず・禁欲せぬ(きんよくせず・きんよくせぬ)
Past (ta)禁欲した(きんよくした)
polite (mashita)禁欲しました(きんよくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)禁欲しなかった(きんよくしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)禁欲しませんでした(きんよくしませんでした)
Te form禁欲して(きんよくして)
Potential禁欲できる(きんよくできる)
Passive禁欲される(きんよくされる)
Causative禁欲させる(きんよくさせる)
Causative passive禁欲させられる(きんよくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)禁欲すれば(きんよくすれば)
tara禁欲したら(きんよくしたら)
Volitional禁欲しよう(きんよくしよう)
polite (mashou)禁欲しましょう(きんよくしましょう)
Imperative禁欲しろ(きんよくしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Related節制せっせいNeutralAbout moderation in eating, drinking and smoking — keeping within bounds; 「禁欲」 is about suppressing desire, above all sexual desire.
  • Related貞潔ていけつWrittenWritten/formal: steadfast virtue and pure conduct, said of men and women alike; 「禁欲」 is the act of curbing desire.
  • Related貞淑ていしゅくWrittenWritten/formal, with traditional moral overtones: describes a woman as chaste and demure.
  • Related貞節ていせつWrittenWritten/formal, traditional in flavor: lifelong fidelity, typically a widow who never remarries.
  • Related貞操ていそうNeutralChastity — purity in sexual matters; 「禁欲」 stresses the active curbing of desire.
  • Related禁欲主義きんよくしゅぎWrittenWritten/formal: asceticism as a doctrine, philosophical or religious; 「禁欲」 is the practice itself.
  • Antonym放縦ほうじゅうWrittenWritten/formal word for self-indulgence with no discipline or restraint — the opposite of the self-control of 「禁欲」.
  • Antonym享楽きょうらくNeutralEnjoying pleasure to the full; the opposite of the desire-suppressing 「禁欲」.

Default: 「禁欲」 for holding down desires, sexual ones above all (「禁欲生活」). For moderation in eating, drinking, smoking choose 「節制」; the 貞-words concern chastity and fidelity, 「禁欲主義」 the doctrine. 「放縦」 and 「享楽」 are the opposites.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 欲求よっきゅう・欲望よくぼう、特とくに性欲せいよくを抑おさえること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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