배고파요
baegopayo
To say "I am hungry" in Korean, you say 배고파요 (baegopayo).
This phrase is used to state that you feel a need for food. While English uses the adjective "hungry", the Korean phrase literally expresses the state of the stomach being hungry.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 배고파요 is a contraction of 배가 고파요. The part 배 means "stomach" and 고프다 means "to be hungry".
How does it change in a sentence?
By raising the intonation at the end of 배고파요, it becomes a question meaning "Are you hungry?"
How do you pronounce it?
baegopayo
Did you know?
- The concept of hunger is often linked to the word 밥 meaning 'cooked rice' or 'meal'. Asking 밥 먹었어? meaning 'did you eat rice?' is a standard greeting similar to 'hello'.
- The word 배 is a homonym that can mean 'stomach', 'pear' or 'double'. Depending on the context, saying 배 could refer to your hunger or a piece of fruit.
- If you are extremely hungry, you can say 배가 고파 죽겠어요, which translates to 'I am so hungry I could die'.
Examples in context
- 선생님, 저는 배고파요.Teacher, I am hungry.
- 친구야, 나 배고프다.Hey friend, I am hungry.
- 너무 배고파요.neomu baegopayo.I am very hungry.
- 지금 배고파요?jigeum baegopayo?Are you hungry now?
- 조금 배고파요.jogeum baegopayo.I am a little hungry.
Example conversation
Minjun and Jieun are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 민준 Min-jun지은 씨, 배고파요?Jieun ssi, baegopayo?Jieun, are you hungry?
- 지은 Ji-eun네, 너무 배고파요.Ne, neomu baegopayo.Yes, I am very hungry.
- 민준 Min-jun우리 뭐 먹을까요?Uri mwo meogeulkkayo?What shall we eat?
- 지은 Ji-eun비빔밥 먹으러 가요.Bibimbap meogeureo gayo.Let's go eat bibimbap.
