Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 色欲 | shikiyoku | |
| 淫欲 | in'yoku | [ĩɰ̃jo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 情欲 | jōyoku | [d͡ʑo̞ːjo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 好色 | kōshoku |
These terms are almost exclusively used in literary, psychological or religious contexts and are rarely used in casual daily conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 色欲 is composed of 色 (color/sexuality) and 欲 (desire/greed).
Which one should you use?
While 色欲 is the most standard and general term for sexual lust, 淫欲 carries a stronger connotation of lewdness or debauchery. Additionally, 情欲 focuses more on the emotional or passionate aspect of desire, whereas 色欲 focuses specifically on the physical or sexual aspect.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
好色 is often used as an adjective or a formal noun to describe a person's character as being lecherous or having a strong inclination toward sex.
How do you pronounce it?
shikiyoku
What mistakes should you avoid?
In informal daily conversation, if you want to imply a strong desire or attraction towards someone, you might use the phrase 好きすぎる (suki sugiru), which literally means "to like too much".
Did you know?
- Because terms like 色欲 are so heavy, Japanese people often use vague descriptions of 'atmosphere' or 'feeling' to imply lust without ever using the actual word.
- The word 欲 used in these terms is the same character used to describe 'greed' or 'avarice', linking sexual desire to the concept of insatiable hunger.
- The word 情欲 evolved from the Middle Chinese term 情慾, showing how ancient Chinese concepts of passion were absorbed into the Japanese language.
Examples in context
- 彼は色欲に溺れている。Kare wa shikiyoku ni oborete iru.He is drowning in lust.
- その物語は色欲をテーマにしている。Sono monogatari wa shikiyoku o tēma ni shite iru.That story has lust as its theme.
- 色欲は人をダメにする。Shikiyoku wa hito o dame ni suru.Lust ruins people.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character in a novel.
- 結衣 Yuiこの主人公は色欲に溺れているわね。Kono shujinkō wa iriyoku ni oborete iru wa ne.This protagonist is drowning in lust, isn't he?
- 健太 Kenta確かに、欲望に正直すぎるな。Tashika ni, yokubō ni shōjiki sugiru na.True, he's far too honest about his desires.
- 結衣 Yui愛と色欲の違いが難しいところよ。Ai to iriyoku no chigai ga muzukashii tokoro yo.The difference between love and lust is the difficult part.
- 健太 Kentaそこがこの本のテーマなんだろうね。Soko ga kono hon no tēma nandarō ne.I guess that's the theme of this book.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lust” translations and entries 色欲, 淫欲, 情欲, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 情欲, 色欲, CC BY-SA 4.0.
