Japanese Conversation · Level 121
60 words
Japanese word
飢える
Pronunciation
Romajiueru
Meaning
- verbgo hungry
Example
食べ物が足りないので、多くの人が飢えています。ta be mono ga ta ri na i no de ō ku no hito ga u e te i ma su
Many people are going hungry because there is not enough food.
More examples
干ばつが続けば、農村の人々も飢えます。kan ba tsu ga tsuzu ke ba nō son no hito bito mo u e ma su
If the drought continues, people in rural areas will go hungry.
Core concept
Describes lacking enough food and suffering from the hunger that results.
Common phrases
飢えて死ぬu e te shi nu
starve to death
飢えた子どもu e ta ko do mo
starving child
Definition in Japanese
食べ物が足りず、空腹に苦しむ。ta be mono ga ta ri zu kū fuku ni kuru shi mu
Word origin
The modern verb 飢える (ueru) developed from the classical verb 飢う (ū, "to suffer hunger"), an older form of the same native Japanese verb.
Usage tips
- In news and humanitarian reports, 飢える (ueru) often describes a continuing lack of food rather than the temporary hunger between ordinary meals.