How to Say “I am hungry” in Chinese
Feelings and opinions · HSK 1
"I am hungry" in Chinese is 我饿了 (wǒ è le). 我饿了 (wǒ è le); the 了 is essential; it signals the change of state ("I have become hungry"). Without 了, just 我饿 sounds grammatically incomplete in modern speech.
Primary translation
我饿了
wǒ è le
Traditional: 我餓了
When to use it
我饿了 (wǒ è le); the 了 is essential; it signals the change of state ("I have become hungry"). Without 了, just 我饿 sounds grammatically incomplete in modern speech. The counterpart is 我饱了 (wǒ bǎo le, "I am full"). 我渴了 is "I am thirsty". Hunger pangs are 肚子饿 (dùzi è, "stomach hungry"); often used to describe a child or gently to signal mealtime. Chinese conversation naturally pivots to food; 你饿不饿 (are you hungry?) is a common lunch-hour opener.
Example sentences
我饿了，去吃饭吧。
Wǒ è le, qù chīfàn ba.
I am hungry, let us go eat.
我饱了，不吃了。
Wǒ bǎo le, bù chī le.
I am full, I will not eat more.
你饿吗？
Nǐ è ma?
Are you hungry?