How to Write 欲 (yù) — Meaning “Desire or want”

Imagine you are standing in a valley (谷) feeling empty and you yawn (欠) because you desire something you don't have. The picture of a valley and a yawn helps you connect the character to the idea of wanting.

Write the left part 谷 narrow and compact, with the 人 on top then 口 below. The right part 欠 should be slightly wider, starting with a short left-falling stroke (撇) followed by a horizontal hook (横折钩) and then the final two strokes (撇,捺). A common mistake is making 谷 too wide, which unbalances the character.

Unlike 欲 (desire), 欮 is a rare character meaning "to raise" or "anger" and has a different left component (like 厥). 欶 means "to suck" and its left part is 束 (bundle). Visually, 欲 uses 谷 on the left, while 欶 uses 束, and their meanings are unrelated to desire.

欲 appears in formal or literary words like 欲望 (desire) and 食欲 (appetite), and in the common idiom 随心所欲 (to do as one pleases). Culturally, Chinese philosophy often warns against excessive desire (欲), seeing it as something to be balanced with reason (理).

Common words containing 欲 include: 欲望 (yù wàng) — Desire or craving; 食欲 (shí yù) — appetite; 随心所欲 (suí xīn suǒ yù) — To follow one's heart's desires / To do as one pleases.