Translation guide
Expressing hunger in Japanese ranges from simple adjectives to nuanced phrases depending on formality and intensity. The most common and neutral way is お腹が空いた, literally 'stomach has become empty.'
I'm hungry. (polite)
Express that you are hungry in everyday conversation, suitable for most situations.
Literally 'stomach has become empty.' This is the standard, natural way to say 'I'm hungry' in Japanese. It uses the past tense of 空く (to become empty). Despite being past tense, it describes the current state of being hungry.
I'm hungry. Let's eat something.
I'm already hungry.
Polite form of お腹が空いた. Use in formal situations or with strangers. The 〜ています form emphasizes the ongoing state.
A more formal noun meaning 'hunger' or 'empty stomach.' Often used in written language or formal speech.
Express hunger among friends or in very informal settings.
Very casual, typically used by males. Literally 'stomach has decreased.' 腹 is a more blunt word for stomach, and 減った is the past tense of 減る (to decrease).
Emphasize that you are extremely hungry.
Express hunger in a very polite or business context.
Do not directly translate 'I am hungry' as 私は空腹です. While grammatically correct, it sounds unnatural and stiff. Use お腹が空いた instead.
お腹が空いた is the everyday expression. 空腹 is more formal and often used in writing or set phrases like 空腹感 (feeling of hunger). In casual speech, 腹減った is common among friends.
Excuse me, I'm hungry.
空腹を感じる。
I feel hungry.
I'm so hungry I can't concentrate.
I'm starving. I want ramen.
Onomatopoeic expression meaning 'very hungry' or 'starving.' ペコペコ mimics the sound of a stomach growling. Casual and often used by all genders.
I'm starving.
Short for 腹がペコペコ. Very casual and common. Often used in manga and anime.
I'm so hungry I could die.
Describes a growling stomach. グーグー is the onomatopoeia for a stomach rumbling. Use to vividly express hunger.
My stomach is growling and it's embarrassing.
I felt hungry during the long meeting.
I'm a little hungry.
I'm so hungry I can't sleep.