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Japanese Versatility List

Hungry and thirsty

Conversation phrases, Stage 1chunk 55 of 68Feelings and empathy

Lets you say you need food or a drink.

Mix-ups hara hetta is rough and masculine; onaka suita is the neutral one.

onaka suita

polite onaka ga sukimashita

I'm hungry

Everyday way to say you're hungry; Japanese says it in the past form.

Ask others with onaka suiteru? (are you hungry?). Men may say hara hetta.

casual

aa, onaka suita. nanika tabeyou.

Ugh, I'm hungry. Let's eat something.

あー、お腹すいた。何か食べよう。

polite

onaka sukimashita ne.

I'm getting hungry, aren't you?

お腹すきましたね。

Written お腹すいた · おなかすいた · お腹がすきましたWho you say itHeard 149× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

onaka pekopeko

polite onaka pekopeko desu

I'm starving

Soft, cute way to say you're very hungry; fine for anyone, common with kids.

Gentler than hara hetta; pekopeko is the sound-word for an empty stomach.

casual

mou onaka pekopeko, hayaku tabeyou!

I'm starving, let's eat already!

もうお腹ペコペコ、早く食べよう！

polite

mou onaka pekopeko desu. hayaku tabemashou.

I'm starving. Let's eat soon.

もうお腹ペコペコです。早く食べましょう。

Written お腹ペコペコ · おなかぺこぺこ · お腹ペコペコですWho you say itHeard 52× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

nodo kawaita

polite nodo ga kawakimashita

I'm thirsty

Literally 'my throat has dried'; the everyday way to say you want a drink.

Past tense because it describes the state now, like tsukareta.

casual

nodo kawaita, nanka nomou yo.

I'm thirsty, let's get a drink.

喉渇いた、なんか飲もうよ。

polite

nodo ga kawakimashita ne. nanika nomimasen ka?

I'm thirsty. Shall we get something to drink?

喉が渇きましたね。何か飲みませんか？

Written 喉渇いた · のどかわいた · 喉が渇きましたWho you say itHeard 10× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

hara hetta

roughmasculine

I'm starving; I'm hungry

Blunt everyday way to say you're hungry, mostly among male friends and family.

Neutral: onaka suita. Polite: onaka ga sukimashita.

casual

aa, hara hetta. nanka tabe ni ikou.

Man, I'm starving. Let's go grab something.

ああ、腹減った。なんか食べに行こう。

Written 腹減った · はらへったWho you say itHeard 58× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles