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March 24, 2026
贪婪(貪婪)tānlán(tan1lan2)
贪婪 (tān lán) refers to an intense desire for more than one needs, particularly concerning wealth or possessions. It is often used in contexts that critique excessive greed or insatiable appetites, such as in discussions about economic disparities or moral lessons.
Frequency#5285DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '贪婪' is often associated with moral teachings in Confucianism, which warns against excessive desires that lead to personal and societal downfall. This notion is reflected in many traditional stories and proverbs.
Memory Tip
Imagine a greedy person (贪) with a large mouth (婪) constantly devouring everything in sight. The components of the character '贪' suggest a desire for wealth, while '婪' evokes the image of someone insatiable, always wanting more.
Meanings of 贪婪
tānlán(tan1lan2)
1avaricious
2greedy
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About 贪婪
贪婪Simplified
貪婪Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5285Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 贪婪
Podcast: 贪婪
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AI Study Notes for 贪婪
Quick Contrast
贪心 (tān xīn) refers to a general desire for more, often with a less severe connotation than 贪婪 (tān lán), which implies a deeper and more insatiable greed.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a greedy person (贪) with a large mouth (婪) constantly devouring everything in sight. The components of the character '贪' suggest a desire for wealth, while '婪' evokes the image of someone insatiable, always wanting more.
Usage Notes
Be cautious of the tone when using '贪婪'; it often carries a negative connotation and is generally used in a formal or literary context. Common collocations include '贪婪的欲望' (greedy desire) and '贪婪的行为' (greedy behavior). Avoid using it in casual conversation to describe someone simply wanting something.
HSK Study Tips
As a level 6 word, '贪婪' connects to themes of ethics and morality discussed in advanced Chinese texts. Students should focus on related vocabulary such as '欲望' (desire) and '满足' (satisfaction) to deepen their understanding of different nuances.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of '贪婪' is often associated with moral teachings in Confucianism, which warns against excessive desires that lead to personal and societal downfall. This notion is reflected in many traditional stories and proverbs.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse '贪婪' with '渴望' (kě wàng), which means desire but does not carry the negative connotation. For example, saying '他对财富的渴望是贪婪' (His desire for wealth is greed) is incorrect; it should be '他的贪婪对财富的追求是错误的' (His greedy pursuit of wealth is wrong).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 贪婪
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Grammar Patterns of 贪婪
贪婪 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
因此,这个____的犹太人就跟慷慨的商人安东尼奥结下了很深的仇恨.
Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.
Example Sentences for 贪婪 (10)
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1
因此,这个贪婪的犹太人就跟慷慨的商人安东尼奥结下了很深的仇恨.
yīn cǐ, , zhè gè tān lán de yóu tài rén jiù gēn kāng kǎi de shāng rén ān dōng ní ào jié xià le hěn shēn de chóu.
Therefore there was great enmity between this covetous Jew and the generous merchant Antonio.
2
饿狗贪婪地啃食着人的尸体。
è gǒu tān lán dì kěn shí zháo rén de shī tǐ。
Starving dogs feasted on the human corpses.
3
贪婪是七罪宗之一。
tān lán shì qī zuì zōng zhī yī。
Greed is one of the seven deadly sins .
4
男孩抢过一块饼便贪婪地吃起来.
nán hái qiāng guò yī kuài bǐng biàn tān lán dì chī qǐ lái.
The boy snatched a piece of cake and ate it hungrily.
5
那三位姓马默布尔的先生也伸长脖子,贪婪地听着.
nà sān wèi xìng mǎ mò bù ěr de xiān shēng yě shēn cháng bó zǐ, , tān lán dì tīng.
The three Mr. Mumbles bent forward and listened eagerly.
6
他的别墅里满是他贪婪成性的证据。
tā de bié shù lǐ mǎn shì tā tān lán chéng xìng de zhèng jù。
His villa is filled with evidence of his acquisitiveness.
7
他们贪婪地闻着煎鱼铺的香味.
tā mén tān lán dì wén zháo jiān yú pū de xiāng wèi.
They snuffed the smell of the fried - fish shops.
8
那个饿汉贪婪地把食物投入口中.
nà gè è hàn tān lán dì bǎ shí wù tóu rù kǒu zhōng.
The hungry man greedily shovelled the food into his mouth.
9
他抬起头来, 一对贪婪的眼光露出馋涎欲滴的神情.
tā tái qǐ tóu lái, , yī duì tān lán de yǎn guāng lòu chū chán xián yù dī de shén.
He raised his head, with a look of unrestrained greed in his covetous eyes.
10
他像猪一样贪婪.
tā xiàng zhū yī yàng tān lán.
He is greedy like a hog.
Cultural Notes for 贪婪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of '贪婪' is often associated with moral teachings in Confucianism, which warns against excessive desires that lead to personal and societal downfall. This notion is reflected in many traditional stories and proverbs.
Frequently Asked Questions about 贪婪
'贪婪' specifically implies excessive greed, whereas ambition can be a positive trait. It's important to choose the right word based on the context.
'贪婪' can be synonymous with '贪心' (tān xīn), but be aware that '贪婪' is often stronger in connotation.
You might say, '他的贪婪导致了他的失败,' meaning 'His greed led to his downfall.'
