貪婪的 / 贪婪的
tānlán-de
The English word 'greedy' can be translated into Chinese as 貪婪的 / 贪婪的 (tānlán-de) or 貪心的 / 贪心的.
Meaning: having greed, consumed by selfish desires (adj)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 貪婪的 / 贪婪的 | tānlán-de |
| 貪心的 / 贪心的 | tānxīn-de |
Both terms describe someone consumed by selfish desires or having greed.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 貪心 (tānxīn) literally translates to 'greedy heart', where 心 (xīn) means 'heart' or 'mind'.
Which one should you use?
貪婪的 / 贪婪的 (tānlán-de) is more formal and carries a stronger sense of moral condemnation than 貪心的 / 贪心的 (tānxīn-de).
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone is 'very greedy', you typically use the adverb 很 (hěn) before the adjective, as in 很貪心 (hěn tānxīn).
How do you pronounce it?
tānlán-de
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'greedy' for many contexts, the term 貪心 (tānxīn) is frequently used in a lighthearted or even admiring way to describe someone with a 'big appetite' for learning or new experiences.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, excessive greed or desire (貪) is sometimes thought to create an imbalance in the 'heart-fire', potentially affecting one's physical health.
- While 貪心 describes greed, the opposite of being 'greedy' in a positive sense is often expressed as 無私, which literally means 'without self'.
Examples in context
- 那个公司的老板非常贪婪，总是追求更多的利润。The boss of that company is very greedy, always pursuing more profits.
- 小明对食物很贪心，总是吃得比别人多。Xiaoming is very greedy when it comes to food, always eating more than others.
- 他是个财迷心窍的商人，为了钱不顾一切。He is a businessman obsessed with wealth, willing to do anything for money.
- 那个孩子真是贪得无厌，一直要买更多的玩具。That child is really greedy, he always wants to buy more toys.
- 那个同学是个贪心人，从不愿意分享。That classmate is a greedy person, never willing to share.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “greedy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
