JLPT N3 · Japanese kanji

欲

欲 — longing

Reading
ヨク・ほっ.する・ほ.しい
Meaning
longing; covetousness; greed; passion; desire; craving
JLPT level
N3
Language
Japanese

About this kanji

欲 is a japanese kanji character commonly studied at the JLPT N3 level. Its primary reading is ヨク・ほっ.する・ほ.しい and it means longing; covetousness; greed; passion; desire; craving. To master it, see it in real Japanese content — import an article or YouTube video into InputDojo and every occurrence becomes a one-tap lookup.

欲 appears in everyday japanese words such as 意欲 (will), 欲望 (desire) and 食欲 (appetite).

Japanese words containing 欲

Frequently asked questions

What does 欲 mean in Japanese?

欲 means longing; covetousness; greed; passion; desire; craving in Japanese. It is one of the JLPT N3 kanji every learner meets at that level.

How is 欲 read?

欲 is read ヨク・ほっ.する・ほ.しい. Reading it inside real words — 意欲 and 欲望 and more — is the fastest way to remember it.

What level is 欲 — is it JLPT N3?

Yes. 欲 is on the official JLPT N3 kanji list, so it can appear in that exam's reading and vocabulary sections.

How do you use 欲 in a word?

A common word containing 欲 is 意欲 (いよく) — "will". More examples are listed below, each with a one-tap dictionary entry.

How do I learn 欲 effectively?

Read it in context. Import any Japanese article or video into InputDojo and every occurrence of 欲 becomes a one-tap lookup with SRS flashcards, so you meet it in real sentences instead of a list.

More JLPT N3 kanji

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