Translation guide
The most common and natural way to say 'hungry' in Japanese is お腹が空いた (onaka ga suita) or お腹が空いている (onaka ga suite iru). There are also casual, formal, and metaphorical expressions.
Expressing that you are hungry and want to eat food.
Literally 'stomach has become empty'. This is the most common, natural way to say 'I'm hungry' in everyday conversation. It uses the past tense of 空く (to become empty).
Expressing a strong desire for something, not necessarily food.
Literally 'to be starving for ~'. Used metaphorically for strong desires, e.g., knowledge, love, success.
お腹が空いた (past tense) is more common in casual speech to mean 'I'm hungry' right now. お腹が空いている (progressive state) emphasizes the ongoing state of being hungry and is slightly more formal. Both are natural.
I'm hungry, so I want to eat something.
I'm hungry. Let's eat something.
Literally 'stomach is empty'. This describes the state of being hungry, similar to 'I am hungry'. Slightly more descriptive than お腹が空いた.
Are you hungry now?
A more formal or written word for 'hunger' or 'empty stomach'. Often used in the phrase 空腹です (I am hungry) in polite contexts.
I'm so hungry I could collapse.
A very casual, masculine expression. Literally 'stomach has decreased'. Often used among close friends or in rough speech.
I'm hungry. Wanna go grab some ramen?
An onomatopoeic word meaning 'very hungry' or 'starving'. Often used as お腹がペコペコ.
I'm starving!
He is hungry for knowledge.
A formal word meaning 'to crave' or 'to thirst for'. Stronger and more literary than 飢える.
She is hungry for success.
お腹が空いているので、早く食事にしましょう。
Since I'm hungry, let's eat soon.
The literal translation '私は空腹です' is grammatically correct but sounds stiff and unnatural in daily conversation. Use お腹が空いた or お腹が空いている instead.
I'm hungry!