Translation guide
Avarice refers to an extreme greed for wealth or material gain. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through several nouns and adjectives that convey greed, often with nuances of selfishness or insatiable desire.
Expressing the general concept of avarice as excessive desire for money or material things.
The most direct and common translation for 'avarice' or 'greed'. It can be used as a noun or na-adjective.
Expressing avarice as an unquenchable craving, not limited to money.
A phrase meaning 'insatiable desire', often used in formal or literary contexts to describe avarice.
彼の飽くなき欲望は際限がない。
His insatiable avarice knows no bounds.
強欲 emphasizes the intensity of greed, often with a negative moral judgment. 貪欲 can sometimes be used in a positive sense (e.g., 知識に貪欲 'eager for knowledge'), but when referring to wealth, both are negative. 欲張り is more casual and often used for minor acts of greed, like taking too much food.
Avoid directly translating 'avarice' as アヴァリス; it is not a common loanword. Use the native Japanese terms above.
彼の強欲が会社を破滅させた。
His avarice ruined the company.
Similar to 強欲, but often implies a more active, grasping greed. Can also be used positively for 'eagerness' in learning, but in context of wealth it means avarice.
彼は金に貪欲だ。
He is greedy for money.
A more colloquial term for a greedy person or the act of being greedy. Often used in everyday speech.
欲張りすぎると何も得られないよ。
If you're too greedy, you'll end up with nothing.
Literally 'deep desire', a more literary or emphatic term for profound greed.
欲深な人は決して満足しない。
A person of deep avarice is never satisfied.
Literally 'boundless greed', a descriptive phrase for avarice.
際限のない欲が彼を破滅させた。
Boundless avarice led to his downfall.