‘欲望’ (yù wàng) is a compound noun meaning ‘desire’ or ‘craving’—a strong, often instinctive feeling of wanting something, whether physical (like food or rest), emotional (like love or recognition), or abstract (like power or knowledge). The first character 欲 (yù) means ‘to wish for’ or ‘to desire’, and the second 望 (wàng) originally means ‘to look toward’ or ‘to hope for’; together, they reinforce the idea of an inward pull toward a goal or object.

This word carries neutral-to-slightly-negative connotations depending on context: it’s common in psychology, philosophy, and everyday speech, but can imply excess or uncontrolled longing when used critically (e.g., ‘贪欲’—greedy desire). It’s more formal and weighty than simpler terms like ‘想要’ (wanting to do something); ‘欲望’ refers to the underlying drive itself, not the act of requesting or planning.