Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'become hungry' is most naturally done with the adjective お腹が空く (onaka ga suku) or the verb 空く (suku). The phrase お腹が空いた (onaka ga suita) in the past tense is the most common way to say 'I'm hungry' (literally 'my stomach has become empty').
Expressing that one is or becomes hungry in everyday conversation.
The most natural and common way to say 'become hungry'. Literally 'stomach becomes empty'. Often used in the past tense お腹が空いた to mean 'I'm hungry'.
I'm hungry.
I think I'll get hungry soon.
Verb meaning 'to become empty' or 'to become hungry'. Used without お腹 in casual speech, but お腹が空く is more common.
You hungry? (very casual)
More formal/literary expression meaning 'to become hungry'. Used in writing or formal speech.
I became hungry during the long meeting.
Describing the process of becoming hungry, often with time or conditions.
Expressing intense hunger.
Avoid directly translating 'become hungry' as 飢える (ueru), which means 'to starve' and is much stronger. Use お腹が空く for normal hunger.
In Japanese, the past tense お腹が空いた is used to express the current state of being hungry, similar to 'I'm hungry' in English. The non-past お腹が空く refers to the general process or future.
I start to get hungry in the evening.
腹ペコだよ〜。
I'm so hungry~.