Desire in Japanese
"desire" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
4 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "desire". The most common choice is shown first.
Top pick
ambition, full moon, hope, desire, aspire to, expect
Reading: bou
11 strokes · mysterious, nature
Where it comes from
Composed of perish, moon, and king. King hoping for moon.
What it carries
Hope, wish, desire. Represents hoping.
Related kanji for "desire"
desire
yoku
Combines 'valley' (谷, emptiness) with 'yawn' (欠), representing the heart seeking something from unfulfilled emptiness. Indicates fundamental human drive.
desire
i · powerful, beautiful
Composed of sound (音) and heart (心). Voice of the heart, intention.
desire
nen · wisdom
Composed of now and heart. Heart of now.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for desire?
The most common kanji for "desire" is 望, read as bou. It means ambition, full moon, hope. Related kanji: 欲 (desire), 意 (desire), 念 (desire).
How many strokes does 望 have?
望 has 11 strokes.