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March 24, 2026
欲(慾)yù(yu4)
The character 欲 (yù) primarily means 'desire' or 'want.' It encompasses a range of feelings related to appetite, passion, and even greed. This character is often used in contexts discussing personal ambitions or emotional yearnings.
Strokes11Radical欠Frequency#3386DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 欲 can relate to the teachings of Confucianism and Buddhism, where desires are often viewed as a source of suffering or a distraction from spiritual fulfillment.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hungry person (the radical 欠 represents 'lack' or 'want') sitting under a large tree (the character's structure) wishing to reach the fruits of their desires. The sound 'yù' can remind you of 'you' wanting something fervently.
Meanings of 欲
yù(yu4)
1desire
2appetite
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 欲 means.
About 欲
欲Simplified
慾Traditional
11Strokes
欠Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#3386Frequency Rank
Podcast: 欲
Podcast: 欲
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AI Study Notes for 欲
Quick Contrast
渴望 (kěwàng) - use 欲 for a more general or intense desire, while 渴望 emphasizes a deep longing or yearning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 欲 with other similar characters like 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to want' but has a softer nuance. 欲 tends to have a stronger connotation, often implying a sense of urgency or greed. Common collocations include 欲望 (yùwàng, desire) and 欲求 (yùqiú, longing).
HSK Study Tips
Although 欲 is not in the official HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners to understand this character as it connects to concepts like desire and intention. Focus on its use in phrases and differentiate it from other desire-related terms to deepen your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 欲 in contexts where 想 would be more appropriate, such as saying 我欲吃 (wǒ yù chī, I want to eat) instead of 我想吃 (wǒ xiǎng chī). Remember that 欲 carries a stronger, more intense meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 欲
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How Well Do You Know 欲?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 欲 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
欲 = 欠 + 谷. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 欲
IDS Structure⿰谷欠
欲Full Character
=
谷gu3
left
欠qian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 欲?
How to say desire in Chinese
“desire” in Chinese is欲yù
The character 欲 (yù) primarily means 'desire' or 'want.' It encompasses a range of feelings related to appetite, passion, and even greed. This character is often used in contexts discussing personal ambitions or emotional yearnings.
When to use 欲
Be careful not to confuse 欲 with other similar characters like 想 (xiǎng), which means 'to think' or 'to want' but has a softer nuance. 欲 tends to have a stronger connotation, often implying a sense of urgency or greed. Common collocations include 欲望 (yùwàng, desire) and 欲求 (yùqiú, longing).
欲 or something close to it
渴望 (kěwàng) - use 欲 for a more general or intense desire, while 渴望 emphasizes a deep longing or yearning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 欲 in contexts where 想 would be more appropriate, such as saying 我欲吃 (wǒ yù chī, I want to eat) instead of 我想吃 (wǒ xiǎng chī). Remember that 欲 carries a stronger, more intense meaning.
Write 欲
欲
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Practice writing 欲 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 欲
欲 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
