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A2 adjective #1,000 am häufigsten 10 Min. Lesezeit

고프다

gopeuda Top 1,000

At the A1 level, the focus is on basic survival communication. Learning to say you are hungry is one of the very first things you need to know. At this stage, you only need to memorize the most common polite phrase: 배가 고파요 (I am hungry). You should understand that 배 means stomach and 고파요 is the polite way to say hungry. You do not need to worry about complex grammar rules yet. Just practice saying this phrase when you want to eat. You can also learn the question form by simply raising your intonation at the end: 배가 고파요? (Are you hungry?). This allows you to express your own needs and ask others about theirs in a simple, direct way. Practice using it with basic time words like 지금 (now) or 오늘 (today). For example, 지금 배가 고파요 (I am hungry now). This simple phrase will help you navigate basic dining situations and daily interactions with Korean speakers. Focus on clear pronunciation and the correct polite ending.

At the A2 level, you begin to expand your use of the word by incorporating different tenses and conjunctions. You should now be comfortable using the past tense: 배가 고팠어요 (I was hungry) and the future/presumptive tense: 배가 고플 거예요 (I will be hungry / I guess you are hungry). You will also start connecting sentences using the conjunction 서 (because/so). A key sentence structure to master is 배가 고파서... (Because I am hungry...). For example, 배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요 (I ate because I was hungry). You should also learn to use basic adverbs of degree, such as 많이 (a lot) or 조금 (a little), to express how hungry you are: 배가 많이 고파요 (I am very hungry). At this level, you must firmly understand that it is an adjective and requires the subject particle 가, avoiding the common mistake of using 를. You can also start using the negative form: 배가 안 고파요 (I am not hungry). This level is about adding detail and connecting your hunger to actions.

At the B1 level, your understanding of the word deepens grammatically and contextually. You should confidently use the 으-irregular conjugation rules across various grammar patterns. You will use it with patterns like ~지만 (but): 배가 고프지만 참을게요 (I am hungry, but I will endure it), or ~면 (if): 배가 고프면 간식을 드세요 (If you are hungry, please eat a snack). You also need to master the third-person usage. You cannot say 그 사람이 배가 고파요; you must use the ~아/어 하다 pattern: 그 사람이 배고파 해요 (He/She is hungry). This is a crucial grammatical distinction for intermediate learners. Furthermore, you will start recognizing it as a single compound word in casual speech (배고프다) versus the separated phrase (배가 고프다). You should be able to express complex reasons and conditions related to hunger, participating in more detailed conversations about meal planning, dietary habits, and physical states. Your sentences will become longer and more nuanced.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use the word with advanced fluency and understand its idiomatic and metaphorical applications. You will encounter and use expressions like 배가 고파 죽겠다 (I am starving to death) naturally in conversation to emphasize your state. You will also understand metaphorical uses, such as being hungry for success or affection (e.g., 사랑에 고프다). You can differentiate it perfectly from similar words like 출출하다 (peckish) and 허기지다 (starving) and choose the exact right word for the situation. You will use complex grammar structures like ~을/를 지경이다 (to the point of): 배가 고파서 쓰러질 지경이에요 (I am so hungry I am on the verge of collapsing). Your listening comprehension will allow you to catch rapid, casual pronunciations where particles are dropped entirely. You can discuss the social and cultural implications of hunger and eating in Korea, using the word as a natural part of your expansive vocabulary.

At the C1 level, your use of the word is near-native. You understand its role in literature, media, and complex social interactions. You can easily navigate subtle nuances and regional variations or slang derived from it (like ㅂㄱㅍ in texting). You can use it in abstract and philosophical discussions, discussing societal hunger or metaphorical cravings with sophisticated grammar. You are comfortable with archaic or highly formal conjugations if encountered in historical dramas or formal literature. You can express complex emotional states tied to physical sensations, using advanced descriptive patterns. Your ability to use related idioms and proverbs is strong, and you can manipulate the word to fit any register, from the most formal business dinner to the most casual street food outing with close friends. You understand the cultural weight of asking about hunger in Korean society.

At the C2 level, you have complete mastery over the word and all its linguistic and cultural dimensions. You can analyze its etymology and its evolution in modern Korean. You can write academic or literary texts using the word and its synonyms with perfect precision. You understand every possible grammatical permutation and can play with the language, creating your own metaphors or poetic expressions using the concept of hunger. You can engage in deep sociological discussions about food scarcity, historical famine, or modern diet culture in Korea, using the vocabulary flawlessly. Your intuition for when to use 고프다 versus any of its synonyms is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You fully grasp the unspoken cultural subtext when a Korean person expresses hunger or asks about yours, recognizing it as a fundamental expression of human connection and care in Korean society.

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고프다 in 30 Sekunden

Means 'to be hungry'.
Always used with '배' (stomach).
It is an adjective, not a verb.
Conjugates as an 으-irregular verb.

The Korean word 고프다 is an adjective that primarily translates to feeling hungry in English. It is one of the most essential and frequently used words in the Korean language, as food and eating hold a deeply significant place in Korean culture and daily life. When you want to express that you are hungry, you will almost always use this word in conjunction with the noun 배, which means stomach. Therefore, the complete and most natural phrase is 배가 고프다, literally translating to the stomach is hungry. Understanding how to use this word correctly is a foundational step in mastering Korean conversational skills. In Korean grammar, 고프다 is classified as a descriptive verb, or an adjective. This is a crucial distinction for English speakers, because in English, hungry is an adjective used with the verb to be (I am hungry), whereas in Korean, the word itself contains the meaning of the state of being hungry. Because it is an adjective, it cannot take an object. This means you must use the subject marking particles 이 or 가 with the noun preceding it. You cannot say 배를 고프다; you must say 배가 고프다.

Grammar Rule: Always use the subject particle 가 with 배 when using 고프다.

저는 지금 배가 고프다.

Another critical aspect of this word is its conjugation. It is an 으-irregular verb. When conjugating it into the polite present tense (아/어요 form), the 으 vowel is dropped, and because the preceding vowel is ㅗ, you add 아요. Thus, 고프다 becomes 고파요.

Conjugation: 고프다 drops the 으 and adds 아요 to become 고파요.

점심을 안 먹어서 배가 고파요.

In everyday situations, you will hear this word constantly. Friends will ask each other if they are hungry before deciding to go to a cafe or restaurant. Parents will ask their children if they are hungry when they return from school. It is a word that bridges social connections, as sharing a meal is a primary way Koreans bond.

우리 배가 고픈데 밥 먹으러 갈까요?

Beyond physical hunger, the word can also be used metaphorically, much like in English. For instance, someone might say they are hungry for love, success, or affection. In these cases, the noun preceding the word changes, and the particle 에 is often used to indicate what one is hungry for, such as 사랑에 고프다 (hungry for love).

Metaphorical Use: Use Noun + 에 + 고프다 to express a strong desire or craving for something non-physical.

그는 항상 애정에 고파 합니다.

To truly master this word, you must practice its various conjugations and understand its role as a descriptive verb. It is not an action you do, but a state you are in. This fundamental difference shapes how the word interacts with other grammatical structures in Korean.

아무리 먹어도 계속 배가 고프네요.

By remembering to pair it with 배, applying the 으-irregular conjugation rules, and recognizing its descriptive nature, you will be able to express your hunger naturally and accurately in any Korean context. This word is your key to navigating the rich and delicious world of Korean dining culture.

Using 고프다 correctly in sentences requires a solid understanding of Korean sentence structure, specifically the use of subject particles and verb conjugations. As mentioned, it is almost exclusively paired with 배 (stomach). The most basic sentence structure is Noun + 가 + 고프다. For example, 배가 고프다. However, in spoken Korean, you rarely use the dictionary form. You must conjugate it according to the formality level and tense.

Polite Present: The polite present tense is 고파요. This is the most common form you will use with acquaintances, colleagues, and strangers.

선생님, 저 배가 고파요.

If you are speaking to close friends or people younger than you, you can drop the 요 and use the casual form, 고파.

Casual Present: The casual present tense is simply 고파. Use this only with close friends or children.

야, 나 진짜 배 고파.

When you want to express that you were hungry in the past, you must use the past tense conjugation. The 으 is dropped, 아 is added, and then the past tense marker ㅆ is attached, resulting in 고팠어요 (polite) or 고팠어 (casual).

Past Tense: The past tense forms are 고팠어요 (polite) and 고팠어 (casual).

어제 밤에 너무 배가 고팠어요.

To express a reason, you can use the conjunction 서 (because/so). Because I am hungry, I will eat. This becomes 배가 고파서 밥을 먹을 거예요. The 서 attaches directly to the conjugated stem 고파.

배가 고파서 집중이 안 돼요.

You can also use it with modifiers to indicate the degree of hunger. Common adverbs include 많이 (a lot), 너무 (too much/very), 조금 (a little), and 약간 (slightly). For example, 배가 너무 고파요 means I am very hungry.

아침을 조금 먹어서 배가 많이 고픕니다.

In formal situations, such as giving a presentation or speaking to a large audience, you would use the formal ending ㅂ니다/습니다. Since 고프다 ends in a vowel, it becomes 고픕니다. Understanding these various sentence structures and conjugations allows you to express your physical needs accurately and politely in any Korean environment.

The word 고프다 is ubiquitous in Korean daily life. You will hear it in almost every setting imaginable, from the moment you wake up to late-night gatherings. Because food is a central pillar of Korean culture, expressing hunger is a common conversation starter and a way to show care for others. In family settings, it is one of the most frequent phrases used. Children will run to their parents saying 배고파! (I am hungry!) after school or play. Parents, in turn, will constantly check on their children's well-being by asking 배 안 고파? (Are you not hungry?).

Family Setting: Used constantly between family members to check on well-being and initiate meals.

엄마, 나 배 고파. 밥 줘!

In the workplace or at school, it serves as a natural transition to lunch or dinner breaks. Colleagues will look at the clock around noon and say 슬슬 배가 고프네요 (I am slowly getting hungry), signaling that it is time to go eat.

Workplace: Used politely to suggest taking a meal break with colleagues.

벌써 12시네요. 다들 배 안 고프세요?

You will also hear it frequently in Korean dramas, movies, and variety shows. Characters will dramatically exclaim 배고파 죽겠어! (I am starving to death!) for comedic effect or to emphasize their suffering. This exaggerated expression is very common in real life as well when someone is extremely hungry.

하루 종일 아무것도 못 먹어서 배가 고파 죽겠어요.

In restaurants, while you would not typically say I am hungry to the waiter (you would just order food), you might hear customers talking among themselves, saying things like 너무 배가 고파서 다 먹을 수 있을 것 같아 (I am so hungry I feel like I could eat everything).

Social Gatherings: Used to express excitement about the food that is about to be eaten.

빨리 먹자. 나 진짜 배 고팠어.

Furthermore, in modern digital communication like texting (KakaoTalk), people often type ㅂㄱㅍ (the initial consonants of 배고파) as a quick slang way to say they are hungry. This shows how deeply ingrained and frequently used the concept is. Whether in formal polite conversation or rapid-fire text slang, mastering this word connects you directly to the rhythm of Korean daily life and social interaction.

수업이 너무 길어서 배가 고프다.

Recognizing these contexts will help you sound more natural and understand the cultural nuances behind a simple statement of hunger.

When learning the word 고프다, English speakers frequently make a few specific grammatical and structural mistakes due to the differences between English and Korean. The most common mistake is treating it as an action verb rather than a descriptive verb (adjective). In English, you say I am hungry, where hungry describes the subject I. In Korean, the structure is literally the stomach is hungry. Therefore, the subject is the stomach (배), not the person.

Subject Error: Do not say 저는 고파요. Say 저는 배가 고파요.

저는 배가 고파요. (Correct)

Another frequent error involves particles. Because learners often think of hunger as something they are experiencing, they might incorrectly use the object particle 을/를, saying 배를 고파요. This is grammatically incorrect because descriptive verbs cannot take objects. You must use the subject particle 가.

Particle Error: Never use 배를 고프다. Always use 배가 고프다.

배가 고파서 간식을 먹었어요. (Correct)

Conjugation also presents a challenge. Because it is an 으-irregular verb, learners sometimes forget to drop the 으 and incorrectly conjugate it as 고프어요. The correct form requires dropping the 으 and adding 아요 because the preceding vowel is ㅗ.

Conjugation Error: Do not say 고프어요. Say 고파요.

지금 배가 많이 고파요? (Correct)

A more subtle mistake occurs when talking about a third person. In Korean, you cannot directly state the internal feelings or physical sensations of another person using a simple descriptive verb. You cannot say 그 사람은 배가 고파요 (He is hungry). Instead, you must use the grammar pattern ~아/어 하다, which turns the adjective into an action verb meaning to show signs of being. So, you must say 그 사람은 배고파 해요.

아이가 배고파 해요. (Correct)

Finally, learners sometimes confuse the pronunciation, pronouncing the ㅍ (p) too softly, making it sound like a ㅂ (b). Ensure you aspirate the ㅍ strongly so it sounds distinct. By avoiding these common pitfalls—using the correct subject, particles, conjugations, third-person forms, and pronunciation—you will sound much more fluent and natural when expressing hunger in Korean.

우리는 어제 너무 배가 고팠어요. (Correct)

Mastering these details is essential for A2 level proficiency.

While 고프다 is the most standard and common way to say hungry, the Korean language offers several nuanced alternatives depending on the exact degree of hunger or the specific context. Understanding these alternatives will enrich your vocabulary and allow you to express yourself more precisely. A very common alternative is 출출하다. This word means to be slightly hungry or feeling a bit peckish. You would use this when you are not starving, but you could go for a snack. It is often used in the late afternoon or late at night.

Slightly Hungry: 출출하다 means to feel a little hungry, perfect for snack time.

밤이 되니까 조금 출출하네요. (I feel a bit peckish since it is night.)

On the opposite end of the spectrum is 허기지다. This word means to be starving or famished. It implies a deeper, more exhausting kind of hunger, often accompanied by a feeling of weakness or loss of energy.

Starving: 허기지다 is used when you are extremely hungry and feeling weak.

등산을 했더니 너무 허기져요. (I am starving after hiking.)

Another strong word is 굶주리다, which means to starve or to be famished, but it often carries a more serious or prolonged connotation, sometimes used in news reports about famine or extreme poverty. However, it can also be used metaphorically, like being starved for affection.

Prolonged Starvation: 굶주리다 implies a severe lack of food over time.

그들은 며칠 동안 굶주렸습니다. (They starved for several days.)

If you want to express the opposite, that you are full, you use the word 부르다 with the stomach. 배가 부르다 means the stomach is full. This is the direct antonym you will use at the end of a meal.

많이 먹어서 배가 부릅니다. (I ate a lot so I am full.)

By learning these variations, you can communicate your physical state much more accurately. Use 출출하다 for a light snack craving, 고프다 for a standard mealtime hunger, and 허기지다 when you desperately need food. This level of vocabulary distinction demonstrates a higher proficiency in Korean and allows for more natural and expressive conversations.

지금은 배가 안 고프고 조금 출출해요.

Practice substituting these words in your daily sentences to get a feel for their specific nuances.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"위원님들, 혹시 시장하지 않으십니까? (Using honorific market/hungry) / 배가 고프지 않으십니까?"

Neutral

"점심시간이라서 배가 고파요."

Informell

"나 진짜 배고파. 밥 먹자."

Child friendly

"우리 아기 배고파요? 맘마 먹을까요?"

Umgangssprache

"아 ㅂㄱㅍ (texting slang for 배고파)."

Wusstest du?

In modern Korean, '배가 고프다' is often shortened and combined into a single word '배고프다' in dictionaries, showing how frequently the two words are used together.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ko.pʰɯ.da/

US /ko.pʰɯ.da/

In Korean, stress is generally equal across syllables, but the pitch may rise slightly on the second syllable depending on the dialect.

Reimt sich auf

아프다 (to be sick/hurt) 슬프다 (to be sad) 기쁘다 (to be glad) 바쁘다 (to be busy) 예쁘다 (to be pretty) 나쁘다 (to be bad) 크다 (to be big) 쓰다 (to write/be bitter)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing '프' as '부' (bu) without aspiration. It must be a strong 'p' sound.
Mispronouncing the '으' vowel as '우' (oo) or '어' (uh). Keep lips flat.
Forgetting to drop the '으' when conjugating to '고파요'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to read, basic vocabulary.

Schreiben 2/5

Requires knowing the 으-irregular conjugation (고파요).

Sprechen 2/5

Easy to say, but must remember to use '배가'.

Hören 1/5

Extremely common, easy to catch in conversation.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

배 (stomach) 밥 (rice/food) 먹다 (to eat) 가 (subject particle) 요 (polite ending)

Als Nächstes lernen

부르다 (to be full) 출출하다 (to be peckish) 목마르다 (to be thirsty) 맛있다 (to be delicious) 식당 (restaurant)

Fortgeschritten

허기지다 (to be starving) 굶주리다 (to famish) 식욕 (appetite) 포만감 (feeling of fullness) 식탐 (gluttony)

Wichtige Grammatik

으-Irregular Conjugation

고프다 -> 고파요 (Drop 으, add 아요 because of ㅗ). 바쁘다 -> 바빠요.

Subject Particle 이/가 with Adjectives

배가 고프다 (Correct). 배를 고프다 (Incorrect).

Third Person Adjective Form (~아/어 하다)

친구가 배고파 해요 (My friend is hungry).

Reason Conjunction (~아/어서)

배가 고파서 밥을 먹어요 (I eat because I am hungry).

Exaggeration Pattern (~아/어 죽겠다)

배가 고파 죽겠어요 (I am starving to death).

Beispiele nach Niveau

저는 배가 고파요.

I am hungry.

Noun + 가 + 고파요 (polite present).

지금 배가 고파요?

Are you hungry now?

Question form, raised intonation.

배가 안 고파요.

I am not hungry.

안 + verb for negation.

우리 배가 고파요.

We are hungry.

우리 means we.

배가 아주 고파요.

I am very hungry.

아주 means very.

오늘 배가 고파요.

I am hungry today.

오늘 means today.

빵을 먹어요. 배가 고파요.

I eat bread. I am hungry.

Two simple sentences.

배가 고파요. 밥 주세요.

I am hungry. Please give me food.

주세요 means please give.

어제 배가 고팠어요.

I was hungry yesterday.

Past tense conjugation (고팠어요).

배가 고파서 밥을 먹었어요.

I ate because I was hungry.

Conjunction 서 (because).

조금 배가 고파요.

I am a little hungry.

조금 means a little.

배가 고프면 식당에 가요.

If you are hungry, go to a restaurant.

Conjunction 면 (if).

배가 고플 거예요.

You will be hungry / I guess you are hungry.

Future/presumptive tense (을 거예요).

아침을 안 먹어서 배가 고파요.

I am hungry because I didn't eat breakfast.

Reason clause with 안 먹어서.

배가 고프지만 참을게요.

I am hungry, but I will endure it.

Conjunction 지만 (but).

배가 고파서 잠이 안 와요.

I can't sleep because I'm hungry.

잠이 안 와요 means cannot sleep.

동생이 배고파 해요.

My younger sibling is hungry.

Third-person descriptive verb pattern (~아/어 하다).

배가 고픈데 뭐 좀 먹을까요?

I'm hungry, shall we eat something?

Background information clause (~은/는데).

배가 고파 죽겠어요.

I am starving to death.

Exaggerated expression (~아/어 죽겠다).

너무 배가 고파서 쓰러질 것 같아요.

I am so hungry I feel like I will faint.

Guessing/feeling pattern (~을 것 같다).

배가 고프기 전에 먹읍시다.

Let's eat before we get hungry.

Before doing something pattern (~기 전에).

아무리 먹어도 계속 배가 고파요.

No matter how much I eat, I keep getting hungry.

No matter how pattern (아무리 ~아/어도).

배가 고플 때 예민해져요.

I get sensitive when I am hungry.

When pattern (~을 때).

다이어트 중이라서 항상 배가 고픕니다.

I am always hungry because I am on a diet.

Noun reason pattern (~이라서).

그는 사랑에 고파서 항상 사람들을 찾는다.

He is hungry for love, so he always seeks out people.

Metaphorical use with particle 에.

배가 고파서 눈이 돌아갈 지경이다.

I am so hungry my eyes are rolling back (I'm losing my mind).

To the point of pattern (~을 지경이다).

출출하긴 한데 밥 먹을 정도로 배가 고프지는 않아요.

I am a bit peckish, but not hungry enough to eat a meal.

Degree pattern (~을 정도로).

배고픔을 달래기 위해 물을 마셨다.

I drank water to soothe my hunger.

Noun form (배고픔).

금강산도 식후경이라는데, 배부터 채우고 합시다.

They say even Diamond Mountain is seen after eating, so let's fill our stomachs first.

Proverb usage.

스트레스를 받으면 왠지 모르게 배가 고파지는 편이에요.

When I get stressed, I tend to get hungry for some reason.

Tendency pattern (~는 편이다).

배가 고파서 허겁지겁 먹다가 체했어요.

I ate hastily because I was hungry and got indigestion.

Action interrupted/followed by pattern (~다가).

아무리 배가 고파도 남의 것을 훔치면 안 됩니다.

No matter how hungry you are, you must not steal others' things.

Prohibition pattern (~면 안 되다).

현대인들은 물질적 풍요 속에서도 정신적 빈곤에 고파 한다.

Modern people hunger for spiritual fulfillment despite material abundance.

Advanced metaphorical third-person usage.

그 배우는 대중의 관심과 사랑에 늘 고파 있는 듯했다.

The actor always seemed to be hungry for the public's attention and love.

State continuation (~아/어 있다).

배고픔이라는 원초적인 본능 앞에서는 이성도 마비되기 십상이다.

In the face of the primal instinct of hunger, reason is prone to being paralyzed.

Prone to pattern (~기 십상이다).

성공에 고픈 나머지 그는 무리한 투자를 감행했다.

Driven by his hunger for success, he risked an unreasonable investment.

As a result of extreme state (~은 나머지).

단순히 배가 고픈 것을 넘어, 영혼이 굶주린 느낌이었다.

It went beyond simple physical hunger; it felt like my soul was starving.

Beyond pattern (~을 넘어).

그녀의 작품에는 애정에 고파하는 인간의 내면이 잘 묘사되어 있다.

Her artwork well depicts the inner self of humans who hunger for affection.

Modifying clause with third-person form.

아무리 배가 고프기로서니 그렇게 예의 없이 굴어서야 되겠는가?

Even granting that you are hungry, should you really behave so rudely?

Even granting that pattern (~기로서니).

그는 권력에 고파 물불을 가리지 않는 사람이 되었다.

Hungry for power, he became a person who stops at nothing.

Idiomatic expression (물불을 가리지 않다).

전후의 참담한 빈곤 속에서 민중은 빵뿐만 아니라 자유에도 고파 있었다.

In the devastating poverty after the war, the masses were hungry not only for bread but also for freedom.

Historical/literary context.

인간의 지적 호기심은 영원히 채워지지 않는, 진리에 고파하는 심연과 같다.

Human intellectual curiosity is like an abyss hungering for truth that can never be filled.

Philosophical metaphor.

그 시인의 시어들은 척박한 현실 속에서 아름다움에 고파하던 영혼들의 갈증을 해갈해 주었다.

The poet's words quenched the thirst of souls hungering for beauty in a barren reality.

Advanced literary vocabulary (해갈하다).

권력에 고픈 자들의 이전투구는 결국 공멸을 초래할 뿐이다.

The mud-slinging of those hungry for power will ultimately only bring about mutual destruction.

Four-character idiom usage (이전투구).

아무리 배가 고프다 한들, 선비의 지조를 꺾을 수는 없는 노릇이다.

No matter how hungry one might be, one cannot break the integrity of a scholar.

Archaic/traditional expression (~다 한들).

그녀의 연기는 인정에 고파 발버둥치는 소외된 자의 페이소스를 완벽하게 구현해냈다.

Her acting perfectly embodied the pathos of a marginalized person struggling out of a hunger for recognition.

Advanced critical vocabulary (페이소스).

자본주의 사회에서 소비자는 끊임없이 새로운 자극에 고파하도록 길들여진다.

In a capitalist society, consumers are conditioned to constantly hunger for new stimuli.

Sociological analysis context.

그는 문학적 성취에 고파하면서도, 세속적인 명성에는 초연한 태도를 보였다.

While hungering for literary achievement, he showed an aloof attitude toward worldly fame.

Contrastive advanced pattern (~하면서도).

Häufige Kollokationen

배가 고프다

몹시 고프다

너무 고프다

조금 고프다

항상 고프다

사랑에 고프다

관심에 고프다

배가 덜 고프다

금방 고프다

은근히 고프다

Häufige Phrasen

배고파 죽겠다

배고파요

배고파?

배 안 고파?

배가 고파서

배고픈데

배고플 때

배고프면

배고파 하다

배고픔을 참다

Wird oft verwechselt mit

고프다 vs 아프다

Means 'to be sick/hurt'. Sounds similar to 고프다. 배가 아프다 means 'stomach hurts', while 배가 고프다 means 'stomach is hungry'.

고프다 vs 바쁘다

Means 'to be busy'. Also an 으-irregular verb (바빠요). Do not confuse the meanings.

고프다 vs 부르다

The exact opposite. 배가 부르다 means 'stomach is full'.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"배가 등에 붙다"

Stomach is attached to the back. Means to be absolutely starving.

며칠을 굶었더니 배가 등에 붙을 지경이다.

Informal/Expressive

"금강산도 식후경"

Even Diamond Mountain is seen after eating. A proverb meaning eating is the most important thing.

금강산도 식후경이라는데 일단 밥부터 먹자.

Proverb

"허리띠를 졸라매다"

To tighten one's belt. Means to endure hunger or poverty.

경제가 어려워져서 모두가 허리띠를 졸라매야 한다.

Idiom

"그림의 떡"

A picture of a rice cake. Something you desire (like food when hungry) but cannot have.

저 비싼 음식은 나에게 그림의 떡이다.

Proverb

"다 먹고 살자고 하는 짓이다"

Everything we do is to eat and live. Used to justify taking a break to eat.

다 먹고 살자고 하는 짓인데 밥은 먹고 일합시다.

Common Saying

"입에 풀칠하다"

To paste one's mouth. Means to barely avoid starvation; to make a bare living.

요즘은 입에 풀칠하기도 힘들다.

Idiom

"찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때가 아니다"

This is not the time to be picky about cold or hot rice. Beggars can't be choosers.

지금 배가 고파서 찬밥 더운밥 가릴 때가 아니야.

Proverb

"게 눈 감추듯 하다"

Like a crab hiding its eyes. To eat food extremely fast because one is so hungry.

너무 배가 고파서 밥 한 그릇을 게 눈 감추듯 먹어치웠다.

Idiom

"목구멍이 포도청이다"

The throat is the police station. Means one is forced to do something bad or difficult just to survive/eat.

목구멍이 포도청이라 이런 궂은일도 해야 한다.

Proverb

"배부른 소리 하다"

To make a full-stomach sound. To complain about something trivial when others are suffering more.

지금 일자리가 없는 사람도 많은데 배부른 소리 하지 마.

Idiom

Leicht verwechselbar

고프다 vs 아프다

Both are 으-irregular adjectives used with body parts.

아프다 means pain. 고프다 means hunger.

배가 아파요 (My stomach hurts) vs 배가 고파요 (I am hungry).

고프다 vs 출출하다

Both mean hungry.

출출하다 is a light hunger, like wanting a snack. 고프다 is standard hunger for a meal.

조금 출출하네요 (I'm a bit peckish).

고프다 vs 시장하다

Both mean hungry.

시장하다 is the honorific form used only for elders or respected people. Never use it for yourself.

할아버지, 시장하세요? (Grandpa, are you hungry?).

고프다 vs 마르다

Used for thirst (목이 마르다).

마르다 is for throat/thirst. 고프다 is for stomach/hunger.

목이 말라요 (I am thirsty).

고프다 vs 허기지다

Both mean hungry.

허기지다 implies a severe, energy-draining hunger, stronger than standard 고프다.

너무 허기져서 힘이 없어요 (I'm so starved I have no energy).

Satzmuster

[Subject]가 고파요.

배가 고파요.

[Subject]가 고파서 [Action].

배가 고파서 밥을 먹어요.

[Subject]가 고프면 [Action].

배가 고프면 간식을 드세요.

[Subject]가 고프지만 [Action].

배가 고프지만 참을게요.

[Person]이/가 배고파 해요.

아이가 배고파 해요.

[Subject]가 고파 죽겠어요.

배가 고파 죽겠어요.

[Noun]에 고프다.

사랑에 고프다.

[Subject]가 고플 지경이다.

배가 고파서 쓰러질 지경이다.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely High (Top 500 words)

Häufige Fehler

저는 고파요. → 저는 배가 고파요.
In Korean, you don't say 'I am hungry'. You say 'My stomach is hungry'. You must include '배' (stomach).
배를 고파요. → 배가 고파요.
'고프다' is an adjective, not a verb. It cannot take the object particle '를'. It must take the subject particle '가'.
고프어요. → 고파요.
'고프다' is an '으' irregular verb. The '으' drops, and because the previous vowel is 'ㅗ', you add '아요'.
그 사람이 배가 고파요. → 그 사람이 배고파 해요.
You cannot state a third person's internal feelings directly with an adjective. You must use the '~아/어 하다' pattern.
할아버지, 배고파요? → 할아버지, 시장하세요?
When speaking to elders, you must use the honorific vocabulary '시장하다' instead of '고프다'.

Tipps

Subject Particle is Key

Always remember to use '가' (배가 고프다). Using '를' is an immediate giveaway that you are a beginner.

Aspirate the 'ㅍ'

Make sure a puff of air comes out when you say '파'. If you say '바', it sounds completely wrong.

Food is Love

If you tell a Korean you are hungry, expect them to feed you. It's a great way to bond!

Learn the Opposite

Always learn pairs. Learn '배가 고프다' (hungry) and '배가 부르다' (full) together.

Texting Shortcut

When texting friends, just type 'ㅂㄱㅍ' to say you are hungry. They will understand immediately.

The '으' Rule

Mastering the conjugation of '고프다' will help you with other '으' irregulars like '바쁘다' (busy) and '아프다' (sick).

Don't use for elders

Never say '할아버지 배고파요?' Use the honorific '시장하세요?' instead to show respect.

Be Dramatic

Don't be afraid to use '배고파 죽겠다' (starving to death). Koreans use this exaggeration all the time.

Listen for '배'

In fast speech, '가' is dropped. Listen for the '배고파' block of sound.

Spacing

'배가 고프다' has a space. '배고프다' does not. Both are correct, but be consistent.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Imagine you GO to the PARK (고파) because you are hungry for a picnic. GO-PA-yo = I am hungry!

Visuelle Assoziation

Visualize an empty stomach shaped like the letter '고' (go) and a puff of air '프' (peu) coming out of it because it's so empty.

Word Web

고프다 배 (stomach) 밥 (food) 먹다 (eat) 식당 (restaurant) 출출하다 (peckish) 부르다 (full) 요리 (cooking)

Herausforderung

Next time you feel hungry, before you eat or say it in English, say '배가 고파요' out loud to yourself.

Wortherkunft

The word '고프다' is a native Korean word. It has been used since Middle Korean, appearing in historical texts as '고프다' with similar pronunciation and meaning. It originally described a state of emptiness or deficiency.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A state of emptiness, specifically referring to the stomach lacking food.

Koreanic

Kultureller Kontext

notes: Do not use the casual form '배고파' with elders or strangers; it sounds rude and demanding. Always use '고파요' or the honorific '시장하시다' for elders.

In English, saying 'I'm starving' is common, but in Korean, '배고파 죽겠다' (starving to death) is used even more casually and frequently.

The famous Korean drama 'Let's Eat' (식샤를 합시다) revolves entirely around the culture of eating and satisfying hunger. The proverb '금강산도 식후경' (Even Diamond Mountain is seen after eating) is known by every Korean.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

At Home

엄마 배고파요
밥 언제 먹어요?
간식 있어요?
배가 꼬르륵거려요

At Work/School

배고픈데 밥 먹으러 갈까요?
점심 뭐 먹을까요?
벌써 배가 고프네요
매점 갈래요?

With Friends

야 배 안 고파?
나 배고파 죽겠어
빨리 먹자 배고파
출출한데 뭐 좀 먹을까?

In a Restaurant

너무 배고파서 다 먹을 수 있어요
빨리 나왔으면 좋겠다
배고파서 현기증 나요
많이 주세요

Dieting

다이어트 중이라 배고파요
배고픔을 참아야 해
물만 마셔도 배고파
야식 먹고 싶다

Gesprächseinstiege

"배가 고픈데 우리 같이 점심 먹으러 갈까요? (I'm hungry, shall we go eat lunch together?)"

"혹시 배 안 고프세요? 제가 간식 좀 가져왔어요. (Are you by any chance hungry? I brought some snacks.)"

"아침을 안 먹었더니 너무 배가 고프네요. (I didn't eat breakfast, so I'm very hungry.)"

"공부하느라 배고프지? 뭐 좀 시켜 줄까? (You must be hungry from studying, right? Shall I order something?)"

"배고파 죽겠어! 오늘 저녁 메뉴는 뭐야? (I'm starving! What's for dinner tonight?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

오늘 가장 배가 고팠던 시간은 언제였나요? (When were you the most hungry today?)

배가 고플 때 가장 먹고 싶은 음식은 무엇인가요? (What food do you crave the most when you are hungry?)

다이어트를 하면서 배고픔을 참아본 경험에 대해 써보세요. (Write about an experience of enduring hunger while dieting.)

당신은 신체적인 배고픔 외에 어떤 것에 '고파' 하나요? (Besides physical hunger, what are you 'hungry' for?)

어릴 적 배고팠을 때 부모님이 해주신 음식의 추억을 적어보세요. (Write a memory of the food your parents made for you when you were hungry as a child.)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, this is unnatural. You must specify what is hungry, which in Korean is the stomach. Always say '저는 배가 고파요' (My stomach is hungry).

It follows the '으' irregular verb rule. When the stem ends in '으', you drop it. Then look at the previous vowel. Since the previous vowel is 'ㅗ' (in 고), you add '아요', making it '고파요'.

You can use the exaggerated expression '배가 고파 죽겠어요' (literally: I am hungry to death) or use the stronger vocabulary word '허기져요'.

Technically '배가 고프다' is a phrase (noun + particle + adjective). However, '배고프다' has become so common that it is accepted as a single compound word in modern dictionaries.

Absolutely not. '고프다' is an adjective (descriptive verb), not an action verb. Adjectives cannot take objects in Korean. You must use the subject particle '가'.

In casual speech, you can simply say '배고파?' with a rising intonation. For polite speech, say '배가 고파요?'.

The opposite is '배가 부르다', which means 'to be full' (literally: the stomach is full).

Thirsty is '목이 마르다' (literally: the throat is dry). It uses a different body part and a different adjective, but follows a similar grammatical structure.

Yes, metaphorically. For example, '사랑에 고프다' means 'hungry for love' or 'starved for affection'. Use the particle '에' for the thing you desire.

You cannot use '고파요' directly for a third person's feelings. You must use the grammar pattern '~아/어 하다', resulting in '그는 배고파 해요'.