野心

やしん

ambition, aspiration

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Understanding 野心 (yěxīn)

野心 literally combines 'field' () and 'heart' (), metaphorically representing a broad or expansive desire in one's heart. It is commonly used to describe a person's ambition or strong desire to achieve something significant.

Usage and Nuance

野心 often carries a neutral to slightly negative connotation depending on context. It can simply mean ambition or drive, but sometimes implies excessive or unscrupulous desire for power or success. When using 野心, consider the tone and context to avoid sounding accusatory unless intended.

Common Collocations

  • 野心 (have ambition): describes someone with clear goals or strong drive.
  • 野心 (full of ambition): emphasizes a very strong or even aggressive ambition.
  • 抑制野心 (restrain ambition): used when someone controls or limits their desires.

Tips

  • 野心 is often used in formal or literary contexts; in casual speech, people might say (xióngxīn) or simply (zhìxiàng).
  • Avoid confusing 野心 with simple wishes or hopes; it implies a strong, often long-term goal.
  • When describing someone's ambition positively, pair 野心 with words like 正当 (legitimate) or 合理 (reasonable) to soften potential negative impressions.

Example Sentences

His ambition is to become the general manager of the company.

Some people's ambition might cause them to ignore morality.

Young people should have ambition, but also be down-to-earth.