Korean word

공복

Pronunciation

Romanizationkongbok

Meaning

  • nounempty stomach

Example

약은 공복에 복용하세요.ya geun kong bo ge po gyong ha se yo

Take the medicine on an empty stomach.

Illustration for 공복 (empty stomach)

More examples

아침에 공복이 오면 집중이 잘 안 된다.a chi me kong bo gi o myeon chip jjung i chal an toen da

I cannot concentrate well in the morning when my stomach is empty.

Core concept

The condition or period when the stomach is empty because no food has been eaten.

Common phrases

  • 공복을 참다kong bo geul cham tta

    endure hunger

  • 공복이 오다kong bo gi o da

    hunger sets in

Similar words

빈속pinsok: An empty stomach in everyday situations when no food has been eaten.
배고픔paegopeum: The feeling of being hungry or needing food.
허기heogi: A light feeling of hunger.

Definition in Korean

식사를 하지 않아 속이 비어 있는 상태나 그 시간을 가리키는 말.sik ssa reul ha ji a na so gi pi eo in neun sang tae na keu si ga neul ka ri ki neun mal

Word origin

The Sino-Korean compound 공 (gong, "empty") + 복 (bok, "belly") literally describes an empty belly.

Usage tips

  • Unlike ordinary expressions for feeling hungry, this word often sounds formal and appears in health advice or medicine instructions.

Other meanings

  • fastingnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 공복감kongbokkkamfeeling of hungernoun

Word lists with this word