Korean Vocabulary Lesson: 4 Words for "Hungry" (with 16 Examples)

Are you just "hungry" or "peckish"? Learn 4 essential Korean words for "hungry," from the standard '배고프다' to '출출하다' (a little hungry) and '굶주리다' (starving), with 16 practical examples.

When you're learning Korean, one of the first phrases you learn is "배고파요" (baegopayo), which means "I'm hungry." This is 100% correct and you can use it all the time!

But what if you're not *that* hungry? What if you just want a small snack? Or what if you're *so* hungry you could eat a horse? Koreans have different words for these feelings! Learning them will make your Korean sound much more natural and expressive. 😋

Today, let's look at 4 different ways to talk about being hungry. Let's go!

 

1. 배고프다 (baegopeuda): The Standard "Hungry" 

This is your standard, everyday word for "hungry." It's a descriptive verb (형용사) and is the most common way to express that you need to eat a meal.

You'll often hear it in its informal, non-polite form "배고파" (baegopa) among friends, or the polite "배고파요" (baegopayo) in most other situations.

📝 Examples (예문)

• 저 지금 배고파요.
  (Jeo jigeum baegopayo.)
  I'm hungry right now.
• 배고파서 밥 먹었어요.
  (Baegopaseo bap meog-eoss-eoyo.)
  I was hungry, so I ate a meal.
• 배고프지 않아요?
  (Baegopeuji an-ayo?)
  Aren't you hungry?
• 점심시간이라 배고프네요.
  (Jeomsim-sigan-ira baegopeuneyo.)
  It's lunchtime, so I'm getting hungry.

2. 배가 고프다 (baega gopeuda): The Full Form 

This means... exactly the same thing as `배고프다`! So, why learn it? It's good to know because it shows you the *structure* of the word.

`배고프다` is actually a contraction of: 배 (bae) = stomach + 가 (ga) = subject marker + 고프다 (gopeuda) = to be hungry/lacking.

You can use `배고프다` and `배가 고프다` interchangeably. `배고프다` is just slightly more common in casual speech.

📝 Examples (예문)

• 저 아직 배가 안 고파요.
  (Jeo ajik baega an gopayo.)
  I'm not hungry yet.
• 배가 너무 고픈데 뭐 먹을까요?
  (Baega neomu gopeunde mwo meog-eulkkayo?)
  I'm so hungry, what should we eat?
• 갑자기 배가 고프기 시작했어요.
  (Gapjagi baega gopeugi sijak-haess-eoyo.)
  I suddenly started to feel hungry.
• 배가 고파서 소리가 나요.
  (Baega gopaseo soriga nayo.)
  My stomach is growling because I'm hungry. (Lit: A sound is coming out)

3. 출출하다 (chulchulhada): "A Little Hungry" / "Peckish" 

This is a super useful word! 출출하다 (chulchulhada) means you are "a little hungry," "peckish," or "feeling snacky."

You wouldn't use this when you're ready for a full dinner. You use it in the afternoon when you want a snack, or late at night when you want some ramen. It's the perfect word for "I could eat *something*."

📝 Examples (예문)

• 입이 출출해서 과자 좀 먹었어요.
  (Ibi chulchulhaeseo gwaja jom meog-eoss-eoyo.)
  I was feeling peckish, so I ate some snacks. (Lit: My mouth was peckish)
• 밤에 출출할 때 뭐 드세요?
  (Bame chulchulhal ttae mwo deuseyo?)
  What do you eat when you get peckish at night?
• 배고픈 건 아닌데 좀 출출하네요.
  (Baegopeun geon aninde jom chulchulhaneyo.)
  I'm not (meal) hungry, but I am a little peckish.
• 출출한데 라면 먹을까?
  (Chulchulhande ramyeon meog-eulkka?)
  I'm feeling snacky, should we have some ramen?

4. 굶주리다 (gumjurida): "Starving" / "Famished" 

This is the strong one. 굶주리다 (gumjurida) means "to be starved" or "to be famished." It implies a serious, long-term lack of food. It comes from the verb `굶다` (gumta), which means "to skip a meal" or "to starve."

⚠️ Nuance Warning!
`굶주리다` is very strong. For casual "I'm starving!" you're more likely to hear "배고파 죽겠어!" (baegopa jukgess-eo!), which literally means "I'm so hungry I could die!" `굶주리다` is more serious, though it can be used for exaggeration or even metaphorically (e.g., "starved for love").

📝 Examples (예문)

• 하루 종일 못 먹어서 굶주리고 있어요.
  (Haru jong-il mot meog-eoseo gumjurigo iss-eoyo.)
  I haven't eaten all day, so I'm starving.
• 저는 지금 너무 굶주려서 뭐든지 먹을 수 있어요.
  (Jeoneun jigeum neomu gumjuryeoseo mwodeunji meog-eul su iss-eoyo.)
  I'm so famished right now I could eat anything.
• 그는 칭찬에 굶주려 있다.
  (Geuneun chingchan-e gumjuryeo itda.)
  He is starved for praise. (Metaphorical)
• 배고파 죽겠어! 빨리 밥 줘!
  (Baegopa jukgess-eo! Ppalli bap jwo!)
  I'm starving! Give me food, quick! (Very casual)

Summary: Which "Hungry" to Use? 

Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the right word.

Korean Word	Romanization	Feeling	Best Used For...
배고프다	baegopeuda	Standard "Hungry"	Wanting a meal (e.g., breakfast, lunch, dinner).
배가 고프다	baega gopeuda	Standard "Hungry"	Same as `배고프다`. (Full, un-contracted form)
출출하다	chulchulhada	"Peckish" / "Snacky"	Wanting a snack, not a full meal.
굶주리다	gumjurida	"Starving" / "Famished"	Serious hunger, or strong exaggeration.

💡

Key "Hungry" Words Summary

Standard "Hungry" (for a meal): 배고프다

"A Little Hungry" (for a snack): 출출하다

"Starving" (strong hunger):

굶주리다 / 배고파 죽겠어

Key Nuance: Use '출출하다' when you just want a snack!

Choose the right word to express your hunger perfectly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions ❓

Q: What's the difference between 배고프다 and 배가 고프다?

A: They are exactly the same! `배고프다` is just a common contraction of `배가 고프다`. Both are correct and used all the time.

Q: What's the opposite of "hungry"?

A: The opposite of `배고프다` (hungry) is `배부르다` (baebureuda), which means "to be full." (e.g., "너무 많이 먹어서 배불러요." - I ate too much, so I'm full.)

Q: Is "배고파 죽겠어" (baegopa jukgess-eo) rude?

A: It's not rude, but it is very casual! It means "I'm starving" (lit. "I'm so hungry I could die"). You can use it with close friends and family, but not in a formal or polite setting.

Q: How do I say "I'm not hungry"?

A: You simply negate the verb: "안 배고파요" (an baegopayo) or "배 안 고파요" (bae an gopayo).