欲張り
yokubari[jo̞kɯ̟ba̠ɾʲi]
The English word "greedy" is translated into Japanese as 欲張り (yokubari).
欲張り is used to describe someone consumed by selfish desires or someone who tries to take too much of something, such as food or opportunities, all at once. It can describe a person's character.
Meaning: having greed, consumed by selfish desires (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
When you use 欲張り as an adjective to modify a noun, you must add the particle な to form 欲張りな. Additionally, the word can function as a verb in its dictionary form, 欲張る, which means "to be greedy".
How do you pronounce it?
yokubari
Did you know?
- While 欲張り often describes selfishness, it can be used playfully as a compliment for someone with high ambitions or a wide range of interests.
- The word is a descendant of the older form 欲ぼり, which has been documented in Japanese texts since at least 1519.
- Japanese has separate words for greed depending on the object, such as 強欲 for an insatiable and aggressive greed, which is more intense than 欲張り.
Examples in context
- 欲張りすぎると、あとで痛い目にあうよね。It hurts to be too greedy.This sentence illustrates the consequences of being too 欲張り.Tatoeba #9934212 by small_snow, translation #10119872 by DJ_Saidez
- 欲張りな考え方A very greedy way of thinkingThis phrase uses 欲張り to describe a specific way of thinking.
- 彼女は欲張りな人です。She is a greedy person.
- 彼はお金に欲張りなので、気をつけてください。Be careful, as he is greedy for money.
- その政治家は強欲さゆえに批判を浴びています。The politician is receiving criticism for his greediness.
- 彼は食べ物にがめついですよ。He is greedy when it comes to food.
- あんながめつい人とは付き合いたくない。I don't want to be involved with such a greedy person.
- 彼らは貪欲なビジネスチームです。They are a greedy business team.
- 彼女は財産を貪欲に増やそうとしている。She is greedily trying to increase her wealth.
- 彼はガツガツした社長だ。He is a greedy and aggressive company president.
- 彼は一度に全部食べようとする欲張りな人だ。Kare wa ichido ni zenbu tabeyou to suru yokubari na hito da.He is a greedy person who tries to eat everything at once.
Example conversation
A couple is discussing a person's behavior while eating dessert.
- 陽太 Yota彼はケーキを全部一人で食べようとしているよ。Kare wa keiki o zenbu hitori de tabeyou to shite iru yo.He is trying to eat all the cake by himself.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に、あの人は欲張りすぎるね。Hontou ni, ano hito wa yokubari sugiru ne.Really, that person is way too greedy.
- 陽太 Yota美咲、僕たちは少しずつ分けよう。Misaki, bokutachi wa sukoshi zutsu wakeyou.Misaki, let's share it bit by bit.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、そうするのが一番いいわね。Youta, sou suru no ga ichiban ii wa ne.Youta, that is the best way to do it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 欲張り, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 欲張り, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
