欲 (yù) - Desire, wish, want & about to, on the point of

欲Tone 4

yù ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

与喻

欲 · yù

Desire, wish, want;

about to, on the point of;

used to express an imminent action or strong inclination.

Desire, wish, wantabout to, on the point ofused to express an imminent action or strong

Usage highlights

DesireAppetiteThirstAbout toSexual desireMaterial desires

Synonyms

  • 愿— wish, desire
  • 望— hope, desire
  • 想— want, think

Antonyms

  • 厌— dislike, detest
  • 弃— abandon, reject
  • 舍— give up, relinquish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I want to travel (欲去旅行).
  • He is about to leave (他欲离开).
  • She has a strong desire for knowledge (她有求知欲).
  • This medicine can increase appetite (这种药能增加食欲).

Collocations

  • Desire(欲望)
  • Appetite(食欲)
  • Thirst(口渴欲饮)
  • About to(欲要)
  • Sexual desire(性欲)
  • Material desires(物欲)

Idioms

  • Insatiably greedy(贪欲无厌)
  • About to speak but stopping(欲言又止)
  • Can't have one's cake and eat it too(鱼与熊掌不可兼得)
  • Where there's a will, there's a way(有志者事竟成)
  • On the point of success(功败垂成)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian philosophy, controlling desires is essential for moral cultivation.
  • Buddhist teachings emphasize overcoming desire as a path to enlightenment.
  • The character appears in many classical texts discussing human nature and ethics.

FAQ