How to Say ‘Hungry’ in Japanese
腹減った
hara hetsu ta
[HAH-rah HET tah]
🇯🇵 In Japan: 腹減った (hara hetta) is blunt and traditionally masculine. お腹すいた (onaka suita) is the neutral version anyone can use.
Phrase Breakdown
腹
hara
[HAH-rah]
belly; stomach
Rough, masculine word for stomach.
腹が痛い。
My stomach hurts.
減っ
hetsu
[HET]
decrease; get empty
Stem of heru 'to decrease'; with 腹 means 'get hungry'.
腹減ったな。
I'm hungry.
た
ta
[tah]
past tense marker
Completes the polite past ending in a verb.
仕事していましたかと聞かれました。
I was asked, 'Did you work?'
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