What does it mean word for word?
The phrase お腹が空いていました literally translates to "the stomach was becoming empty".
Which one should you use?
The form お腹が空いていました describes a continuous state of being hungry in the past. In contrast, お腹が空きました focuses on the specific moment the hunger occurred, meaning "I became hungry". Other informal variations include Onaka peko peko datta, which can be translated as "My stomach was growling" and Onaka suita, which means "My stomach was empty".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お腹が空いていました is a polite way to express hunger, making it suitable for speaking to teachers, bosses or strangers. For a formal setting, you can also use Onaka ga sukimashita. In casual settings, you might use お腹が空いていた with friends or family or the more blunt and masculine 腹が減っていた (hara ga hette ita), which is often used by men in informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase お腹が空いていました uses the ~te imashita form to describe a continuous state in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
onaka ga suite imashita
Did you know?
- While お腹 (onaka) refers to the stomach, the more masculine and blunt 腹 (hara) is used in many idiomatic expressions about one's true intentions or anger.
- The phrase お腹が空く (onaka ga suku) uses a verb that also means 'to become available' or 'to open up', as if a space has cleared in the stomach.
- The casual expression peko peko is an onomatopoeia that mimics the sound of a hungry stomach. It is often used by children or to sound cute when expressing hunger.
Examples in context
- 昨日の夜はお腹が空いていました。Kinō no yoru wa onaka ga suite imashita.I was hungry last night.
- さっきまでお腹が空いていました。Sakki made onaka ga suite imashita.I was hungry until a moment ago.
- 会議中、とてもお腹が空いていました。Kaigichū, totemo onaka ga suite imashita.I was very hungry during the meeting.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking about their lunch break.
- 美咲 Misakiお昼ごはんをたくさん食べましたか？Ohiru gohan o takusan tabemashita ka?Did you eat a lot for lunch?
- 健太 Kentaはい、すごくお腹が空いていましたから。Hai, sugoku onaka ga suite imashita kara.Yes, because I was very hungry.
- 美咲 Misakiそれは良かったです。満足しましたか？Sore wa yokatta desu. Manzoku shimashita ka?That's good. Are you satisfied now?
- 健太 Kentaはい、もうお腹いっぱいです。Hai, mō onaka ippai desu.Yes, I am full now.
