Meaning

Primary

Hungry

Alternative

I'm Hungry

Word Type

expression

Explanation

When your belly has decreased in the amount of stuff inside it, you become hungry.

腹が減った is a casual way of saying I'm hungry in Japanese, often with a bit of a rough or masculine tone.

Reading

はらがへった
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading is plus 減る put together. With these two combined, you have はらがへった.

In casual speech, you might hear 腹減った without the more often. The version with is more common in writing or fixed expressions like 腹が減っては戦ができぬ (you can't fight on an empty stomach).

Context

Context Sentences

腹が減ったなぁ。何か作ってよ。

I'm hungry. Can you make something for me?

腹が減ったよ〜!でもお弁当もう全部食べちゃった。

I'm starving! But I already ate my bento.

さっき食べたばっかなのに、もう腹が減ったの?

You just ate a little while ago, and you're already hungry again?

腹が減ったな。この件については、昼飯を食べながら話さないか?

I’m hungry. Would you like to continue this over lunch?

Kanji Composition