Listen to this articleyù 欲
Desire
人对外物的欲求。“欲”主要指人为外物所感而产生的欲望，包括对食物、美色等外在事物的欲求。“欲”是人天生所具有的本性，需要获得适当的满足，但同时也要有所节制。如果对外物的欲求超出一定的限度，则会造成对自身生命的伤害，同时也会带来人与人之间的纷争与社会秩序的混乱。“欲”有时也被用来指称对美德的追求，并以此强调对美德的追求是人固有的本性。
This term refers to the yearning for external objects. Yu (欲)is the desire for external things such as food and beauty. This desire is a natural instinct, so it should be satisfied to an appropriate degree and be restrained at the same time. Excessive desire can be harmful to a person, create disputes between people and cause disorder. Desire also refers to the pursuit of virtue, something that is inherent part of human instinct.
引例 Citation：
◎饮食男女，人之大欲存焉。（《礼记·礼运》）
（饮食与异性，是人的根本的欲求。）
Food and courting the opposite sex are all basic human desires. (The Book of Rites)
◎今人之性，饥而欲饱，寒而欲暖，劳而欲休，此人之情性也。（《荀子·性恶》）
（现实中人们的本性，饥饿时想要吃饱，寒冷时想要温暖，疲劳时想要休息，这是人的本性。）
Basic human needs are to eat when hungry, to find warmth when cold, and to seek rest when tired. All these are all human instincts. (Xunzi)
