Explore 欲 through things people want, appetite and motivation. Learn each reading in a complete word.

The idea

欲 has 11 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 欲しい（ほしい） expresses a desire for a thing, usually with が. 欲しがる（ほしがる） describes someone showing that desire; 食欲（しょくよく） means appetite and 意欲（いよく） means motivation.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
欲しいほしいI want a new dictionary.
欲しがるほしがるMy younger sister wants a cat.
食欲しょくよくI have no appetite today.
意欲いよくShe is eager to learn.

Examples

  • 新あたらしい辞書じしょが欲ほしいです。I want a new dictionary.
  • 妹いもうとは猫ねこを欲ほしがっています。My younger sister wants a cat.
  • 今日きょうは食欲しょくよくがありません。I have no appetite today.
  • 元気げんきになって食欲しょくよくが戻もどりました。My appetite returned after I got better.
  • 彼女かのじょは学まなぶ意欲いよくがあります。She is eager to learn.
  • もっと時間じかんが欲ほしいです。I want more time.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use 欲しい as a straightforward assertion of another person’s private feelings. 欲しがっています describes observable signs of wanting; 食欲 refers specifically to appetite.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 欲しい in hiragana.

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    ほしい

    欲しい is ほしい: 新しい辞書が欲しいです means I want a new dictionary.

  2. Write the reading of 食欲 in hiragana.

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    しょくよく

    食欲 is しょくよく: 食欲がありません means I have no appetite.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 意＿（いよく）［欲／浴］.

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    欲

    欲 completes 意欲（いよく）, meaning motivation or eagerness.

Use it today

Write 欲 using the stroke diagram. Cover the table, read 欲しい and 食欲, then make a sentence with one.