我好肚餓
ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6
我好肚餓 (ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6) is the Cantonese way to say 'I am hungry'.
This phrase is a statement used to express a physical need or desire for food.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I very stomach hungry'. The word 好 (hou2) functions as an adverb meaning 'very' to intensify the adjective. The word 肚餓 (tou5 ngo6) is a compound where 肚 (tou5) means 'stomach' and 餓 (ngo6) means 'hungry'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the adverb 好 (hou2) is used to intensify the adjective 肚餓 (tou5 ngo6).
How do you pronounce it?
ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6
Did you know?
- In Cantonese, you can express extreme hunger by saying you are 'starving' using the word 餓 (ngo6), but adding the word 死 (sei2), meaning 'death', to the end of the phrase.
- The word 肚 (tou5), which means 'stomach' in the phrase for hunger, is also used in various Cantonese idioms to describe being greedy or nervous.
- You can say 餓肚 (ngo6 tou5) to mean 'to go hungry', which involves reversing the order of the 'stomach' and 'hungry' words found in the standard phrase.
Examples in context
- 我好肚餓。I am hungry.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase 我好肚餓.Tatoeba #473053 by Riko, translation #409602 by CC
- 我好肚餓，想食飯。ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6, soeng2 sik6 faan6.I am hungry, I want to eat.
- 我好肚餓，可唔可以食嘢？ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6, ho2 m4 ho2 ji5 sik6 je5?I am hungry, can I eat something?
Example conversation
Two friends are walking in the afternoon.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit雅婷，我好肚餓。nga5 ting4, ngo5 hou2 tou5 ngo6.Ah Ting, I am hungry.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting俊傑，我仲未肚餓。zeon3 kit3, ngo5 zung6 mei6 tou5 ngo6.Chun Kit, I'm not hungry yet.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit咁不如去食嘢呀？gam2 bat1 jyu4 heoi3 sik6 je5 aa3?Then why don't we go eat something?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting好呀，去食雲吞麵啦。hou2 aa3, heoi3 sik6 wan4 tan1 min6 laa1.Okay, let's go eat wonton noodles.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
