Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 野心 | yashin | [ja̠ɕĩɴ] (narrow) |
| 野望 | yabō |
In Japanese, the word for ambition changes significantly based on the scale and the connotation of the desire. While 野心 can be used for general ambition, it often carries a connotation of being aggressive, calculating or even unscrupulous. When referring to large-scale, grandiose or unrealistic ambitions, such as world domination, the word 野望 is more appropriate. Other formal terms exist depending on the nuance: 大志 conveys having great aspirations and goals, while 志 emphasizes determination, willpower and strong resolve.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 野心 is composed of 野 (wild/field) and 心 (heart/mind/spirit), literally meaning a wild or untamed heart. The term 野望 is composed of 野 (wild/field) and 望 (desire/hope/expectation), literally meaning a wild or untamed hope.
Which one should you use?
野心 is often used for a more aggressive or predatory type of ambition. In contrast, 野望 is reserved for much larger, more grandiose or even unrealistic ambitions.
How do you pronounce it?
yashin
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, emphasizing one's own 野心 can be seen as a sign of arrogance or a lack of humility, which are highly valued traits.
- The word 野望 is frequently used in anime and manga to describe the 'grand scheme' of a villain, often specifically regarding the conquest of the world.
- While English 'ambition' can be positive, using 野心 (yashin) to describe yourself in a Japanese job interview might sound overly aggressive or predatory.
Examples in context
- トムは野心がない。Tom has no ambition.This sentence is useful for describing someone who lacks ambition.Tatoeba #8702763 by small_snow, translation #2450115 by sharptoothed
- 彼は野心に満ちている。He is full of ambition.This sentence is useful for describing someone who is full of ambition.Tatoeba #99417 by tommy__san, translation #304281 by CC
- 彼は大物政治家になるという野心を忘れたことはなかった。He never forgot his ambition to become a leading politician.This sentence is useful for describing a long-held ambition to reach a political position.Tatoeba #1151806 by bunbuku, translation #1316893 by CK
- 彼は野心に満ちた若手起業家です。He is an ambitious young entrepreneur.
- 私の大志は世界平和の実現です。My ambition is to achieve world peace.
- 彼はやる気にあふれていて、いつもすごい成果を出しているよ。He is full of ambition and always achieves remarkable results.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two siblings are discussing their future career goals.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太は、将来どんな仕事がしたいの？Yōta wa, shōrai donna shigoto ga shitai no?Yota, what kind of work do you want to do in the future?
- 陽太 Yota世界で有名な社長になるっていう野心があるよ。Sekai de yūmei na shachō ni naru tte iu yashin ga aru yo.I have an ambition to become a world-famous CEO.
- 陽葵 Himariすごいね。でも、計画はもう立てたの？Sugoi ne. Demo, keikaku wa mō tateta no?That's amazing. But have you made a plan yet?
- 陽太 Yota今から勉強して、準備しようと思ってるよ。Ima kara benkyō shite, junbi shiyō to omotteru yo.I'm thinking of studying and preparing from now on.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ambition” translations and entries 野心, 野望, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
