The Meaning of yokubari [欲張り] In Japanese

欲張り
よくばり
Romaji: yokubari N5

What does 欲張り mean?

Translation and Meaning

greed, greediness, a greedy person

Definition

What does 欲張り mean? It denotes greediness or avariciousness; a person who always wants more, especially material possessions or rewards; a negative trait commonly used to criticize someone’s appetite for more.

Type

noun (na-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Greediness or avarice as a character trait; used to describe a person who always wants more than their fair share.
  • Desire-driven or insatiable appetite for wealth, possessions, or rewards; can describe actions or behavior as greed-driven.
  • Can be used playfully or critically depending on tone; 欲張りな is often negative, but in light humor it can soften when referring to oneself or close friends.

Etymology

欲 (desire) + 張り (stretch, tension) → 欲張る as a verb; 欲張り as a noun; the sense is a desire that is stretched to excess.

Origin

Native to Japanese; earliest attested in classical literature and Edo-period writings describing character traits; used for people as well as their conduct, with no external loanword involved.

Composition

  • 欲 — desire, wanting
  • 張り — stretch, tension; in this compound it conveys the sense of extending desire beyond a fair share

Usage

Used as a noun or as 欲張りな in casual to semi-formal contexts; can also appear as 欲張りに to describe greedily performed actions; generally negative when referring to people, but milder or affectionate in humorous contexts.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a hand grabbing more and more items; the mouth of 欲 expresses desire and 張り shows it being stretched; together they cue the idea of insatiable wanting.

Variations

  • 強欲 (ごうよく, gouyoku) — greed
  • 貪欲 (どんよく, don’yoku) — voracity
  • 欲深い (よくぶかい, yokubukai) — greedy/covetous
  • 欲張りな (よくばりな, yokubari na) — greedy (used to modify a noun)
  • 満足 (まんぞく, manzoku) — contentment (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 彼女は 欲張り だから、 バーゲン の 商品 すべて を 見逃さなかった。
    Kanojo wa yokubari dakara, baagen no shōhin subete o minogasanakatta.
    She is greedy, so she didn’t miss any sale items.
    Lista:
    • 彼女は (Kanojo wa) – she
    • 欲張り (yokubari) – greedy
    • だから、 (dakara) – therefore
    • バーゲン (baagen) – bargain
    • の (no) – of
    • 商品 (shōhin) – goods
    • すべて (subete) – all
    • を (wo) – (object marker)
    • 見逃さなかった (minogasanakatta) – didn’t miss
    Use 欲張り as a na-adjective; 欲張りだ means ‘being greedy’ and connects to the rest with から (‘therefore/so’). Here it expresses motive for her actions. The word is shown as 「欲張り」.
欲張り