欲張りな人
yokubarina hito
The English phrase "greedy person" is translated into Japanese as 欲張りな人 (yokubarina hito).
欲張りな人 is used to describe a person who wants more of something than they need or more than their fair share. In casual settings, you may hear the shortened form 欲張り used as a noun to refer to a greedy person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built from the stem 欲張り, which means greedy or gluttonous and is derived from the verb 欲張る (to be greedy or to act with greed) and the noun 人 (hito), meaning person.
Which one should you use?
While 欲張りな人 is common in daily conversation, the term 強欲な人 is a more formal and intense way to describe someone with extreme, insatiable greed. You might also encounter 欲張りなやつ, which is a more blunt and informal way to say "greedy person".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the na-adjective form 欲張りな to modify the noun 人.
How do you pronounce it?
yokubarina hito
Did you know?
- While 欲張り usually describes greed, it can be used as a compliment in the context of '欲張りセット', which refers to a 'greedy set' or a variety pack that lets a customer try many different things at once.
- The word 強欲 (goyoku) used in the formal term 強欲な人 is frequently found in Buddhist texts to describe one of the primary causes of human suffering.
- The verb 欲張る (yokubaru) can be used in a positive sense to describe someone who is ambitious or strives to do their absolute best at a task.
Examples in context
- 彼は本当に欲ばりな人だと言えるでしょう。He can definitely be described as a greedy person.
- 彼女はどんなに持っていても満足しないよ。本当に欲張りな女性だね。She is never satisfied, no matter how much she has. She is a really greedy woman, isn't she?
- 彼はとても欲張りな人だ。Kare wa totemo yokubari na hito da.He is a very greedy person.
- 欲張りな人は嫌われる。Yokubari na hito wa kirawareru.A greedy person is disliked.
- あんな欲張りな人は嫌いです。Anna yokubari na hito wa kirai desu.I hate that kind of greedy person.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are discussing a friend who took all the snacks.
- 健太 Kenta彼、お菓子を全部食べたよ。Kare, okashi o zenbu tabeta yo.He ate all of the snacks.
- 美咲 Misaki本当に欲張りな人だね。Hontō ni yokubari na hito da ne.He really is a greedy person.
- 健太 Kentaもう少し分けてほしかったな。Mō sukoshi wakete hoshikatta na.I wish he had shared some more.
- 美咲 Misaki次は私たちが全部食べましょう。Tsugi wa watashitachi ga zenbu tabemashō.Next time, let's eat them all ourselves.
