Translation guide
To eat something quickly, hungrily, or completely. Can also be used figuratively for consuming information or being consumed by emotions.
Describing eating food in a fast, greedy, or ravenous manner.
The most direct equivalent, meaning to eat greedily or devour. Often used for animals or people eating with intense hunger.
彼はハンバーガーをむさぼり食った。
He devoured the hamburger.
To eat ravenously or wolf down food. Casual and vivid.
子供たちはお菓子をがつがつ食べた。
The kids devoured the snacks.
To eat up completely, polish off. Emphasizes finishing all the food.
彼は大盛りのラーメンを平らげた。
He devoured a large bowl of ramen.
To eat up entirely, consume all of something. Often used for animals or swarms.
イナゴが作物を食い尽くした。
The locusts devoured the crops.
To read, watch, or absorb information with great enthusiasm and speed.
To read voraciously, devour books. Combines 'devour' with 'read'.
彼女は小説をむさぼり読んだ。
She devoured the novel.
To be absorbed in reading, read avidly. Implies losing track of time.
To read as if devouring. A more literary or emphatic expression.
彼は貪るように本を読んだ。
He devoured books greedily.
To be overwhelmed or completely taken over by a strong feeling.
Passive form of 'devour', used for being consumed by emotions like jealousy or curiosity.
彼は嫉妬にむさぼり食われた。
He was devoured by jealousy.
To be possessed or obsessed by an emotion or idea. Stronger than 'devoured' but similar in figurative use.
彼女は好奇心に取り憑かれていた。
She was devoured by curiosity.
To consume or destroy something rapidly and entirely, like fire or a natural force.
To burn up completely, devour by fire.
炎が家を焼き尽くした。
The flames devoured the house.
To swallow up, engulf. Used for waves, darkness, etc.
While 'devour' can be used figuratively in English for emotions, direct translation with むさぼり食う may sound unnatural. Use passive forms or alternative verbs like 取り憑かれる for being consumed by feelings.
彼は週末ずっと漫画を読みふけっていた。
He spent the whole weekend devouring manga.
津波が町を飲み込んだ。
The tsunami devoured the town.