Translation guide
How to express extreme hunger in Japanese, from casual to formal.
The speaker is very hungry, often to the point of discomfort.
A very common, casual onomatopoeic phrase meaning 'I'm starving'. Literally 'stomach is peko-peko'.
I'm starving.
I'm already starving.
A dramatic, casual expression meaning 'I'm so hungry I could die'. Very natural among friends.
I'm so hungry I could die.
A blunt, masculine way to say 'I'm hungry'. Often used by men in casual settings.
Man, I'm hungry.
The polite, standard way to say 'I'm hungry'. Suitable for most situations.
Excuse me, I'm hungry.
A formal or written expression meaning 'I can't stand this hunger'. Not used in casual speech.
I'm unbearably hungry, so let's eat soon.
Referring to actual starvation or severe food deprivation.
The verb meaning 'to starve' in a literal sense. Often used in compound forms.
Many people are starving.
To die of starvation. A serious, literal term.
He starved to death.
The noun for 'starvation' or 'famine'. Used in news or formal contexts.
飢える (ueru) means literal starvation and sounds overly dramatic if you just skipped lunch. Use お腹が空いた or ペコペコ instead.
Starvation is a serious problem.