desire
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desire
A very strong, passionate longing for something or someone, for example for power, wealth, or a person.
Seine unstillbare Begierde nach Anerkennung trieb ihn zu Höchstleistungen.
His insatiable desire for recognition drove him to peak performance.
'Begierde' (desire) is a strong, elevated word for an intense longing. It is often used in literature, psychology, or philosophy and frequently has a negative or uncontrollable connotation, unlike a simple 'Wunsch' (wish).
Der Roman beschreibt die blinde Begierde der Hauptfigur nach Rache.
The novel describes the main character's blind desire for revenge.
The noun 'Begierde' (desire) is almost always used with the preposition 'nach' and the dative to name the object of the desire.
Ihre Begierde nach Wissen war unendlich.
Her desire for knowledge was endless.
'Begierde' (desire) is often combined with strong, abstract goals. Typical collocations are 'die Begierde nach Macht' (the desire for power), 'nach Geld' (for money), 'nach Ruhm' (for fame), or 'nach Anerkennung' (for recognition).
Die Begierde nach Macht hat schon viele Menschen korrumpiert.
The desire for power has corrupted many people.
desire / pleasure
'die Lust' and 'die Begierde' can both express a desire for something or someone. However, 'Lust' is often neutral and can also be very everyday: you may have Lust auf Kaffee, Musik oder einen Ausflug (feel like coffee, music, or a trip). 'Begierde' is much stronger and more passionate. It often sounds serious, intense, or even somewhat negative, for example with power, money, or a person. The words can be confused because both describe wanting something. As a practical rule: for normal wishes, you usually use 'Lust'; for very strong, urgent desire, 'Begierde' is more appropriate.
Seine Begierde nach Macht machte ihn für die anderen im Team schwierig.
His desire for power made him difficult for the others on the team.
Lust auf ein Eis habe ich schon, aber ich esse erst später.
I do feel like having an ice cream, but I'll eat later.