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).
お腹が空いたね。何か食べよう。
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.
Expressing a strong desire for something, not necessarily food.
Literally 'to be starving for ~'. Used metaphorically for strong desires, e.g., knowledge, love, success.
彼は知識に飢えている。
He is hungry for knowledge.
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.
お腹が空いたから、何か食べたい。
I'm hungry, so I want to eat something.
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.
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.
空腹で倒れそうだ。
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.
腹が減ったな。ラーメンでも食いに行くか。
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.
お腹がペコペコだよ。
I'm starving!
A formal word meaning 'to crave' or 'to thirst for'. Stronger and more literary than 飢える.
彼女は成功を渇望している。
She is hungry for success.
お腹が空いた！
I'm hungry!
お腹が空いた！
I'm hungry!