Definition
贪婪 (tānlán) is a formal, literary adjective meaning 'greedy, avaricious' — it describes an insatiable desire for wealth, power, or possessions. It is more intense and formal than 贪 (tān), which is more colloquial and can also be a verb meaning 'to covet'. Unlike 吝啬 (lìn sè 'stingy, miserly'), which focuses on unwillingness to share, 贪婪 emphasizes excessive craving.
adjective
greedyavaricious
Examples
- 贪婪。Tā yīnwèi tài guò tān lán ér shīqù le péngyou.He lost friends because he was too greedy.
- 贪婪。tān lán de shāngrén wǎngwǎng bú huì chéngxìn jīngyíng.Greedy merchants often don't operate with integrity.
- 贪婪。Nǐ yīnggāi kòngzhì zìjǐ de tān lán zhī xīn.You should control your own greed.
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