Japanese word

空腹

Pronunciation

Romajikūfuku

Meaning

  • na-adjectivehungry

Example

昼食前は空腹です。hiru shoku zen wa kū fuku de su

I am hungry before lunch.

Illustration for 空腹 (hungry)

More examples

夕方になると、いつも空腹になります。yū gata ni na ru to i tsu mo kū fuku ni na ri ma su

I always get hungry by evening.

Core concept

Describes the bodily state in which the need for food is felt.

Common phrases

  • 空腹になるkū fuku ni na ru

    become hungry

  • 空腹な子どもkū fuku na ko do mo

    hungry child

Similar words

腹ぺこharapeko: It describes being very hungry in an informal way.

Definition in Japanese

食べ物を食べたいと感じている状態。ta be mono o ta be ta i to kan ji te i ru jō tai

Word origin

空腹 (kūfuku) combines 空 (kū, "empty") and 腹 (fuku, "belly"), forming a Sino-Japanese compound for an empty stomach.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 空腹 (kūfuku) sounds more formal than お腹がすいた (onaka ga suita), so it often appears in neutral descriptions or writing.

Other meanings

  • empty stomachnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 空腹感kūfukukanfeeling of hungernoun

Word lists with this word