About
The character "欲", representing the concept of desire or want, derives from a structural composition where the phonetic and semantic elements are intertwined. Its traditional counterpart, "慾", used specifically for intense or carnal desire as a noun, more clearly incorporates the "心" (heart/mind) component to emphasize the psychological nature of craving, whereas the simpler "欲" functioned both as a verb meaning "to wish for" and a noun. The core components of "欲" are "谷", meaning valley, and "欠", depicting a person with an open mouth, often interpreted as yawning or lacking. This combination creates an evocative image of an open, empty valley or a person with an open mouth in a state of want, metaphorically conveying a sense of emptiness seeking fulfillment. Over centuries, its application broadened from expressing basic physical wants and volition to encompassing abstract and philosophical dimensions of human longing, ambition, and appetite, while retaining its fundamental link to the idea of an unmet need.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我想要一杯水。
这个孩子食欲很好。
他充满了求知的欲望。
强烈的购物欲让她花了很多钱。
人要学会克制自己的欲望。
他欲言又止，似乎有难言之隐。
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这部影片探讨了人性中的欲望与挣扎。