Japanese dictionary
How to say "hungry" in Japanese
お腹がすいたおなかがすいた · onaka ga suita
"I'm hungry" in Japanese is お腹がすいた (onaka ga suita), literally "my stomach has become empty." Politely, say お腹がすきました.
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Ways to say "hungry" in Japanese
| Japanese | When to use it |
|---|---|
| お腹がすいたおなかがすいた · onaka ga suita | I'm hungry. |
| お腹がすいているおなかがすいている · onaka ga suite iru | To be hungry. |
| 空腹くうふく · kūfuku | Hunger; empty stomach. Formal. |
| ペコペコぺこぺこ · pekopeko | Starving (casual). |
How to use it
Japanese describes hunger as a change that has happened, so the past form すいた is used for "I'm hungry now."
"I'm starving" casually is お腹ペコペコ (onaka pekopeko).
Example sentences
- お腹がすきました。Onaka ga sukimashita.I'm hungry.
- お腹すいた？何か食べに行こう。Onaka suita? Nanika tabe ni ikō.Are you hungry? Let's go get something to eat.
- 朝ご飯を食べなかったので、お腹ペコペコです。Asagohan o tabenakatta node, onaka pekopeko desu.I skipped breakfast, so I'm starving.
- 空腹で薬を飲まないでください。Kūfuku de kusuri o nomanaide kudasai.Don't take the medicine on an empty stomach.
- まだお腹がすいていません。Mada onaka ga suite imasen.I'm not hungry yet.
- お腹がすいたら言ってください。Onaka ga suitara itte kudasai.Let me know when you get hungry.
Questions
Why is "I'm hungry" in the past tense in Japanese?
お腹がすいた describes a change that has happened: your stomach has become empty. So the past form expresses the present state.
How do you say "I'm full" in Japanese?
Say お腹がいっぱいです (onaka ga ippai desu).
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