Meanings of 慾
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About 慾
Podcast: 慾
Podcast: 慾
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AI Study Notes for 慾
欲 (yù) vs 渴望 (kěwàng) — use 慾 for more intense or carnal desires, while 渴望 suggests a longing that can be less intense or more abstract.
A common mistake is to confuse 慾 with 欲望 (yùwàng), which means 'desire' more generally, while 慾 can imply a more intense or specific craving. This word is more often used in literary or formal contexts, so learners should be cautious about using it in casual conversation. Collocations include 慾望 (desire) and 食慾 (appetite).
Although 慾 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be linked to other words about desires and emotions you may encounter at higher levels, such as 情感 (qínggǎn) meaning 'emotion' or 渴望 (kěwàng) meaning 'to long for.' Focus on understanding its emotional connotations and contexts.
Learners often misuse 慾 in casual contexts where 欲望 would be more appropriate. For instance, saying 我有很多慾望 (Wǒ yǒu hěn duō yù) can sound overly formal or intense; using 欲望 instead would be more natural.
Pronunciation of 慾
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Etymology of 慾
Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 谷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 慾.
The heart's 心 desire 欲; 欲 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 慾
Phonosemantic compound. 欠 represents the meaning and 谷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 慾.
- 1The giveawayThe heart's 心 desire 欲; 欲 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 慾? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 慾
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How to say passion, desire, lust; appetite in Chinese
“passion, desire, lust; appetite” in Chinese is慾
The character 慾 (yù) represents the concepts of passion, desire, lust, and appetite. It is often used in contexts related to strong emotional or physical desires, such as in romantic, material, or even culinary senses. This character conveys a sense of yearning or craving, which can be both positive and negative depending on the context.
When to use 慾
A common mistake is to confuse 慾 with 欲望 (yùwàng), which means 'desire' more generally, while 慾 can imply a more intense or specific craving. This word is more often used in literary or formal contexts, so learners should be cautious about using it in casual conversation. Collocations include 慾望 (desire) and 食慾 (appetite).
慾 or something close to it
欲 (yù) vs 渴望 (kěwàng) — use 慾 for more intense or carnal desires, while 渴望 suggests a longing that can be less intense or more abstract.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 慾 in casual contexts where 欲望 would be more appropriate. For instance, saying 我有很多慾望 (Wǒ yǒu hěn duō yù) can sound overly formal or intense; using 欲望 instead would be more natural.
Write 慾
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Practice writing 慾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 慾
Compound Meaning
What does 欲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 慾
You can say 我对这件事情的慾望很强烈 (Wǒ duì zhè jiàn shìqíng de yùwàng hěn qiángliè), meaning 'I have a strong desire for this matter.'
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