我饱了
wǒ bǎole
The English phrase "I am full" is translated into Chinese as 我饱了 (wǒ bǎole).
我饱了 is used to express that you have eaten enough food and cannot eat any more. A common variation is 我吃饱了, which literally means "I have eaten my fill" and is a very common way to say you are full.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 我 (I), 饱 (full of food) and the particle 了 (indicating a change of state).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, you can say 饱咗！ to mean "I'm full!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle 了 at the end of 我饱了 indicates a change of state, specifically moving from a state of hunger to a state of being full.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ bǎole
When do people say it?
When you are in a polite social setting and wish to decline more food, it is common to follow 我饱了 with 不用了，谢谢 (No more, thank you).
Did you know?
- In many Chinese social settings, saying 我饱了 directly might actually be seen as slightly too blunt. It is often considered more polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate to show that the host provided more than enough.
- While 饱 relates to hunger, the phrase 饱经风雨 uses the word to mean someone who has 'full' experience of life's hardships and storms.
- To describe the uncomfortable feeling of being overfull, Chinese speakers use the term 撑, which literally means 'to stretch' or 'to prop up'.
Examples in context
- 谢谢，我已经吃饱了。Thank you, I am already full.
- 是的，我吃得好饱啊！Yes, I ate so much, I'm full!
- 我饱了，谢谢。Wǒ bǎo le, xièxie.I am full, thank you.
- 我不吃了，我饱了。Wǒ bù chī le, wǒ bǎo le.I won't eat anymore, I am full.
Example conversation
At a restaurant after finishing a large meal.
- 梓涵 Zihan还要再来一点吗？Hái yào zài lái yīdiǎn ma?Do you want a little more?
- 伟 Wei不用了，我饱了。Bùyòng le, wǒ bǎo le.No need, I am full.
- 梓涵 Zihan你吃得太多了。Nǐ chī de tài duō le.You ate too much.
- 伟 Wei可是真的很好吃。Kěshì zhēnde hěn hǎochī.But it was really delicious.
