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B1 noun #3,000 most common 9 min read

腹が減る

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to express basic needs. 'Hara ga heru' is a phrase you might hear in anime or from Japanese friends, but you should primarily focus on 'Onaka ga suita' (I'm hungry) first because it is more polite. However, it's good to recognize 'Hara ga heru' as a way people say they want food. 'Hara' means belly, and 'heru' means to decrease. In A1, we usually learn the past tense 'Hara ga hetta' because that's how we say 'I am hungry right now.' It's a very simple structure: [Body Part] + [Particle ga] + [Verb]. Even if you don't use it yourself yet, knowing it helps you understand casual conversations. Imagine a character in a cartoon rubbing their stomach and saying 'Hara hetta!'—that's the classic A1 context. You don't need to worry about complex grammar here, just the basic meaning of being hungry in a casual way.
At the A2 level, you start to understand the difference between casual and polite Japanese. You know that 'Onaka ga sukimashita' is what you say to your teacher, but 'Hara ga hetta' is what you say to your brother or a close friend. You also learn how to connect this phrase to other sentences. For example, 'Hara ga hetta kara, tabeyou' (I'm hungry, so let's eat). You might also start dropping the particle 'ga' to sound more natural: 'Hara hetta.' At this level, you should be able to conjugate 'heru' into basic forms like 'herimasu' (polite present) or 'heranai' (negative). You are also learning that Japanese often uses the past tense to describe a current state of being hungry, which is a key concept for A2 learners to grasp.
At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'Hara ga heru' naturally in appropriate social contexts. You understand that 'hara' is a more visceral word than 'onaka' and that 'heru' (to decrease) focuses on the depletion of energy. You can use it in more complex sentences, such as 'Zutto aruite ita kara, hara ga hette kita' (I've been walking for a long time, so I've started to get hungry). You also begin to recognize common idioms like 'Hara ga hette wa ikusa wa dekinu.' At this level, you should be careful not to use this phrase in formal situations, as it can sound a bit 'rough' or 'unrefined.' You are developing a 'social filter' for your Japanese, knowing that while this phrase is common in media, it requires a certain level of intimacy or a specific masculine persona to use comfortably in real life.
At the B2 level, you understand the nuance and 'flavor' of 'Hara ga heru' compared to its synonyms. You know that 'heru' is an intransitive verb and can distinguish it from the transitive 'herasu' (to reduce). You might use 'hara o herasu' to mean 'to work up an appetite.' You are also aware of the cultural significance of 'hara' as the center of energy and emotion. You can use the phrase to add character to your speech or to fit into a specific social group, such as a sports team or a group of close male colleagues. You also understand how adverbs like 'hageshiku' (intensely) or 'shinu hodo' (to the point of death) modify the phrase to express extreme states. Your usage is no longer just about communicating a need, but about expressing it with the correct emotional weight and social register.
At the C1 level, you have a sophisticated grasp of 'Hara ga heru' and its place in the Japanese lexicon. You can identify it in various literary styles and understand when an author uses it to characterize a protagonist as earthy, direct, or unpretentious. You are familiar with dialectal variations or older forms that might appear in historical dramas. You can also discuss the physiological and psychological aspects of 'kuufuku' (hunger) versus the colloquial 'hara ga heru.' You might use the phrase in a self-deprecating or humorous way to break the ice in a semi-casual setting. You understand the subtle shift in tone when a woman uses this phrase—it can signal strength, informality, or a rejection of traditional feminine speech patterns. Your mastery allows you to play with the language's register to achieve specific social effects.
At the C2 level, your understanding of 'Hara ga heru' is near-native. You are aware of the historical evolution of the word 'hara' and how 'heru' has been used in classical Japanese to describe various types of depletion. You can analyze the phrase's use in sociolinguistics, discussing how gendered speech is changing in modern Japan and how phrases like 'hara ga heru' are being adopted by different demographics. You can use the phrase in highly nuanced ways, perhaps in a speech or a piece of creative writing, to evoke a specific atmosphere or to pay homage to classic Shonen tropes. You are also fully aware of all idiomatic and proverbial uses, and can use them effortlessly in conversation to add color and depth to your Japanese. Your command of the phrase is total, from its most basic physical meaning to its complex social and cultural connotations.
Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

腹が減る in 30 Seconds

  • Informal way to say 'to get hungry' in Japanese.
  • Literally means 'the belly decreases' (hara + heru).
  • Commonly used by males and in casual settings.
  • Often used in the past tense 'hara ga hetta' to mean 'I am hungry now.'

The Japanese phrase 腹が減る (hara ga heru) is a fundamental expression used to convey the physical sensation of hunger. At its core, it translates literally to "one's belly decreases" or "one's stomach is becoming empty." While the English equivalent is simply "to get hungry," the Japanese expression carries a more visceral, slightly more masculine, and casual nuance compared to its polite counterpart, お腹が空く (onaka ga suku). The word 腹 (hara) refers to the abdomen or belly, and 減る (heru) is an intransitive verb meaning to decrease, diminish, or grow less in number or quantity. When these two combine, they describe the physiological process where the contents of the stomach have diminished, leading to the urge to eat.

Literal Meaning
The belly (腹) decreases (減る).
Nuance
Casual, direct, and often used by males or in informal settings among friends.
Grammatical Function
An intransitive verb phrase describing a state change.

「ああ、腹が減った。何か食べに行こうぜ。」 (Man, I'm hungry. Let's go grab something to eat.)

Understanding the depth of this phrase requires looking at the word 腹 (hara). In Japanese culture, the 'hara' is considered the center of one's being, the seat of emotions and willpower. Therefore, saying your 'hara' is decreasing is a very direct way of stating a bodily need. It is less about the 'stomach' as an anatomical organ (which would be 胃 - i) and more about the 'belly' as the physical container of energy. When you use 減る (heru), you are highlighting the depletion of that energy. This makes the phrase feel more urgent and raw than the more 'airy' 空く (suku - to become empty/hollow).

「仕事が終わったら、急に腹が減ってきた。」 (Once work ended, I suddenly started getting hungry.)

In terms of frequency, you will encounter this phrase constantly in daily life, media, and literature. It captures a universal human experience but does so through a specifically Japanese linguistic lens that favors describing physical states as 'changes in volume' or 'changes in emptiness.' It is a B1 level phrase because while the individual kanji are simple, knowing when to use 'hara' vs 'onaka' and 'heru' vs 'suku' marks a transition into more natural, context-aware Japanese. It is not just about vocabulary; it is about social register and the physical connection to the language.

「こんなに腹が減るのは久しぶりだ。」 (It's been a while since I've been this hungry.)

Common Collocation
激しく腹が減る (hageshiku hara ga heru) - To be intensely hungry.

Using 腹が減る correctly involves understanding its conjugation and its social placement. As a Godan verb (u-verb), 減る (heru) follows standard conjugation patterns, but it is most frequently used in the past tense (減った - hetta) to indicate the current state of being hungry, or in the 〜てきた (-te kita) form to indicate the onset of hunger.

Past Tense (State)
腹が減った (Hara ga hetta) - I am hungry (lit. My belly has decreased).
Polite Form
腹が減りました (Hara ga herimashita) - I am hungry (Polite but still slightly blunt due to 'hara').
Progressive/Onset
腹が減ってきた (Hara ga hette kita) - I'm starting to get hungry.

「そろそろ腹が減る時間だね。」 (It's about time to get hungry, isn't it?)

When constructing sentences, the particle が (ga) is the standard subject marker, but in casual speech, it is often dropped: 腹減った (hara hetta). This dropping of the particle makes the expression even more informal and is extremely common in spoken Japanese. If you are speaking to a superior, a teacher, or someone you don't know well, you should avoid 'hara' and instead use お腹が空きました (onaka ga sukimashita). Using 'hara ga heru' in a business meeting would likely be seen as too rough or unrefined.

「運動した後は、すごく腹が減る。」 (After exercising, I get really hungry.)

Another important aspect is the intensity. To emphasize how hungry you are, you can add adverbs like めちゃくちゃ (mechakucha), すごく (sugoku), or 死ぬほど (shinu hodo - to the point of death). For example, 「死ぬほど腹が減った」 is a common hyperbolic way to say "I'm starving."

「腹が減っては戦はできぬ。」 (You can't fight on an empty stomach - a famous proverb.)

Negative Form
腹が減らない (Hara ga heranai) - I'm not hungry / I don't get hungry.

In summary, use 腹が減る when you want to sound natural and casual, particularly among peers. It conveys a sense of directness that 'onaka ga suku' lacks. It is the language of the street, the home, and the gym, rather than the office or the formal dinner party.

You will encounter 腹が減る in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from everyday life to popular media. It is perhaps one of the most frequently used phrases in Shonen anime (action anime aimed at young males). Characters like Goku from Dragon Ball or Luffy from One Piece are famous for shouting 「腹減ったー！」 after a big battle. In these contexts, it signifies vitality, a healthy appetite, and a straightforward personality.

「おい、サンジ！腹が減ったぞ！飯をくれ！」 (Hey Sanji! I'm hungry! Give me food! - Typical anime usage.)

In daily life, you will hear it among friends deciding where to go for lunch. It’s the standard way for a group of male students or coworkers who are close to each other to signal that it's time for a break. It is also common in family settings, where children (especially boys) might complain to their parents about being hungry. However, a mother might gently correct a child to use お腹が空いた to encourage more polite speech habits.

TV/Movies
Used by 'tough' characters, blue-collar workers, or in realistic dramas to show intimacy between characters.
Literature
Used in first-person narratives (using 'ore' or 'boku') to describe the protagonist's physical state.

「深夜になると、どうしても腹が減るんだよね。」 (When it gets late at night, I just inevitably get hungry, you know?)

You might also hear it in proverbs or idiomatic expressions. The most famous is 「腹が減っては戦（いくさ）はできぬ」 (Hara ga hette wa ikusa wa dekinu), which means "You can't fight a war on an empty stomach." This is often used today to justify taking a lunch break before starting a difficult task or meeting. It shows that the concept of 'hara' being the source of strength is deeply embedded in the Japanese psyche.

「あーあ、腹減ったな。ラーメンでも食いに行くか？」 (Ah, I'm hungry. Shall we go eat some ramen or something?)

In summary, 腹が減る is the 'default' hunger expression for casual, masculine, or high-energy situations. It is less about the etiquette of eating and more about the raw, biological need for fuel.

One of the most common mistakes learners make with 腹が減る is using it in the wrong social context. Because it is a casual and somewhat 'rough' expression, using it with a teacher, a boss, or someone you've just met can come across as rude or uneducated. It’s like saying "My gut's empty" instead of "I'm hungry" in English. While not a profanity, it lacks the 'softness' required for polite Japanese society.

Mistake 1: Wrong Register
Using 'hara ga heru' in a job interview or formal dinner. Correction: Use 'onaka ga suku'.
Mistake 2: Confusing Transitivity
Trying to say 'hara o herasu' (to decrease the belly) when you mean you are hungry. 'Heru' is intransitive.

❌ 「先生、腹が減りました。」 (Too casual for a teacher.)
✅ 「先生、お腹が空きました。」

Another mistake is the confusion between 減る (heru) and 空く (suku). While both mean you are hungry, you cannot swap the nouns and verbs freely. 腹が空く (hara ga suku) is possible but less common than お腹が空く. However, お腹が減る (onaka ga heru) is quite common and acts as a middle ground between the very casual 腹が減る and the polite お腹が空く. Beginners often mix these up, saying things like 胃が減る (i ga heru), which is incorrect.

❌ 「腹が減っているです。」 (Grammatically awkward mix of casual and polite.)
✅ 「腹が減っています。」 or 「腹が減った。」

Learners also sometimes struggle with the tense. In English, we say "I am hungry" (present tense). In Japanese, once the hunger has set in, it is a completed action/state, so 腹が減った (past tense) is more natural than 腹が減る (present/future) when you are currently feeling the sensation. Using the present tense 腹が減る often implies a general habit or a future occurrence (e.g., "I get hungry at 3 PM").

Mistake 3: Tense Error
Saying 'hara ga heru' when you mean 'I'm hungry right now'. Correction: 'Hara ga hetta'.

There are several ways to express hunger in Japanese, each with its own nuance. Comparing 腹が減る to these synonyms helps in choosing the right word for the right situation. The most direct synonym is お腹が空く (onaka ga suku), which is the standard, polite, and gender-neutral way to say "to get hungry."

空腹 (kuufuku)
A formal, technical, or academic noun meaning 'empty stomach' or 'hunger'. Used in medical contexts or formal writing.
腹ペコ (hara-peko)
A colloquial, cute, or childish way to say 'starving' or 'famished'. Often used by children or in a lighthearted way by adults.
ひもじい (himojii)
An old-fashioned or literary word for being hungry, often implying a state of poverty or prolonged lack of food.

「空腹は最高の調味料だ。」 (Hunger is the best sauce/seasoning.)

While 腹が減る is casual, お腹が空く is safe for almost any situation. If you want to emphasize the emptiness, use 空く (suku). If you want to emphasize the depletion of energy or the physical sensation in the belly, use 減る (heru). There is also the phrase 小腹が空く (kobara ga suku), which means to be 'a little bit hungry' or 'peckish'. Interestingly, we don't usually say 小腹が減る; it's almost always 空く.

「ちょっと小腹が空いたから、おやつを食べよう。」 (I'm a bit peckish, so let's have a snack.)

In formal writing or news reports, you will see 空腹感 (kuufukukan - the feeling of hunger). For example, "The medicine suppresses the feeling of hunger" would use 空腹感を抑える. You would never use 腹が減る in such a clinical context. Understanding these distinctions allows you to navigate Japanese social hierarchies and contexts effectively.

Summary of Differences
Hara ga heru (Casual/Masculine) < Onaka ga suku (Standard/Polite) < Kuufuku (Formal/Technical).

How Formal Is It?

Formal

""

Slang

""

Difficulty Rating

Grammar to Know

Examples by Level

1

はらがへった。

I'm hungry.

Casual past tense used for current state.

2

はらがへる。

I get hungry.

Present tense for general habit.

3

とてもはらがへった。

I'm very hungry.

Adverb 'totemo' for emphasis.

4

はらへった！

I'm hungry! (Casual)

Particle 'ga' is omitted.

5

おなかがへった。

I'm hungry. (Slightly softer)

Using 'onaka' instead of 'hara'.

6

はらがへりました。

I am hungry. (Polite)

Masu-form past tense.

7

はらがへらない。

I'm not hungry.

Negative form.

8

もうはらがへったの？

Are you hungry already?

Question with 'no' particle.

1

はらがへったから、ごはんをたべよう。

I'm hungry, so let's eat.

Using 'kara' for reason.

2

あそんだあとは、はらがへるね。

After playing, you get hungry, don't you?

Using 'ato de' for sequence.

3

はらがへってきた。

I'm starting to get hungry.

V-te kuru indicates onset.

4

まだはらがへっていません。

I'm not hungry yet.

V-te iru negative for state.

5

はらがへると、げんきがなくなります。

When I get hungry, I lose energy.

Conditional 'to' for natural consequence.

6

なにかたべないと、はらがへるよ。

If you don't eat something, you'll get hungry.

Negative conditional 'nai to'.

7

おなかがへったので、パンをかいました。

Because I was hungry, I bought some bread.

Using 'node' for cause.

8

はらがへるまえに、かえりましょう。

Let's go home before we get hungry.

Using 'mae ni' for 'before'.

1

運動した後は、いつも以上に腹が減る。

After exercising, I get hungrier than usual.

Comparison 'izyou ni'.

2

腹が減っては戦はできぬと言うし、先に食べよう。

They say you can't fight on an empty stomach, so let's eat first.

Quoting a proverb with 'to iu shi'.

3

仕事に集中していたら、腹が減るのを忘れていた。

I was so focused on work that I forgot I was getting hungry.

Nominalizing the phrase with 'no'.

4

こんなに腹が減ったのは、久しぶりだ。

It's been a long time since I've been this hungry.

Using 'hisashiburi' for duration.

5

腹が減りすぎて、力が出ない。

I'm so hungry that I have no strength.

V-stem + sugiru for excess.

6

夜中になると、どうしても腹が減ってしまう。

When it gets to be the middle of the night, I just end up getting hungry.

V-te shimau for unintended action.

7

腹が減る前に、夕飯の準備をしておこう。

Let's prepare dinner before we get hungry.

V-te oku for preparation.

8

腹が減っている時に買い物に行くと、買いすぎてしまう。

If you go shopping when you're hungry, you end up buying too much.

Temporal clause with 'toki'.

1

腹が減るという感覚は、生命維持に欠かせないシグナルだ。

The sensation of getting hungry is an essential signal for maintaining life.

Abstract noun 'kankaku' (sensation).

2

彼は腹が減ると、すぐに機嫌が悪くなるタイプだ。

He's the type who gets grumpy as soon as he gets hungry.

Describing personality with 'taipu da'.

3

腹が減った状態で会議に出るのは、集中力を欠く原因になる。

Attending a meeting while hungry causes a lack of concentration.

Noun + 'zyoutai de' (in the state of).

4

激しいトレーニングをこなすと、猛烈に腹が減るものだ。

When you complete intense training, it's natural to get intensely hungry.

Using 'mono da' for general truths.

5

腹が減るのを我慢して、ダイエットを続けるのは辛い。

It's hard to continue a diet while enduring hunger.

V-stem + tsurai (hard to do).

6

いくら腹が減ったからといって、人の食べ物を盗んではいけない。

No matter how hungry you are, you must not steal other people's food.

Concessive 'ikura... kara to itte'.

7

腹が減ってきたところで、ちょうどいい具合に弁当が届いた。

Just as I was getting hungry, the bento arrived at the perfect time.

Using 'tokoro de' for timing.

8

腹が減る仕組みについて、生物学の授業で学んだ。

I learned about the mechanism of getting hungry in biology class.

Noun 'shikumi' (mechanism).

1

極限状態において、腹が減るという本能が理性を凌駕することがある。

In extreme conditions, the instinct of hunger can sometimes override reason.

Formal vocabulary like 'ryouga' (override).

2

腹が減るたびに、彼は亡き母が作ってくれた味噌汁を思い出す。

Every time he gets hungry, he remembers the miso soup his late mother used to make.

Using 'tabi ni' for 'every time'.

3

飽食の時代において、真に「腹が減る」という経験は貴重かもしれない。

In an era of gluttony, the experience of truly 'getting hungry' might be precious.

Sociological observation style.

4

腹が減るという生理現象を、彼は哲学的な視点から考察した。

He examined the physiological phenomenon of hunger from a philosophical perspective.

Formal 'kousatsu shita' (examined).

5

腹が減ったからといって、なりふり構わず食らいつくのは野蛮だ。

Just because you're hungry, it's barbaric to devour food without regard for appearances.

Idiomatic 'narifuri kamawazu'.

6

孤独と腹が減る感覚が相まって、彼は深い虚無感に襲われた。

The combination of loneliness and hunger left him with a deep sense of emptiness.

Using 'aimatte' for 'combined with'.

7

腹が減るのを忘れるほど、彼はその研究に没頭していた。

He was so immersed in his research that he forgot to get hungry.

Using 'hodo' for degree.

8

都会の喧騒の中で、ふと腹が減る自分に、まだ人間らしさが残っていると感じた。

In the bustle of the city, suddenly feeling hungry made me feel that I still had some humanity left.

Literary first-person reflection.

1

腹が減るという原初的な衝動こそが、文明を突き動かす原動力であったと言えよう。

It could be said that the primal urge of hunger was the driving force that propelled civilization.

Academic 'ieru darou' style.

2

作家は、主人公が腹が減る描写を通じて、彼の生への執着を表現した。

The author expressed the protagonist's attachment to life through the depiction of his hunger.

Literary analysis terminology.

3

腹が減るという事実は、我々がいかに肉体という檻に縛られているかを痛感させる。

The fact that we get hungry makes us painfully aware of how much we are bound by the cage of the physical body.

Metaphorical language.

4

その静寂を破ったのは、誰の腹が減る音でもなく、遠くで鳴る雷鳴であった。

What broke the silence was not the sound of anyone's stomach growling, but the distant roll of thunder.

Complex sentence structure.

5

腹が減るという感覚を、単なる欠乏ではなく、可能性への渇望と捉え直す。

To reframe the sensation of hunger not as mere lack, but as a thirst for possibility.

Philosophical reframing.

6

古来、日本人は「腹が減る」ことを魂の減衰と結びつけて考えていた節がある。

Since ancient times, there have been indications that Japanese people associated 'getting hungry' with the waning of the soul.

Historical 'fushi ga aru' (there are signs).

7

腹が減るという日常的な事象の背後に潜む、深遠な生命のダイナミズム。

The profound dynamism of life that lurks behind the everyday occurrence of getting hungry.

Poetic/Scientific fusion.

8

腹が減るのを厭わず、理想を追い求める姿に、人々は感銘を受けた。

People were moved by the sight of him pursuing his ideals without minding his hunger.

Using 'itowazu' (without minding).

Common Collocations

めちゃくちゃ腹が減る (mechakucha hara ga heru)
猛烈に腹が減る (mouretsu ni hara ga heru)
急に腹が減る (kyuu ni hara ga heru)
少し腹が減る (sukoshi hara ga heru)
腹が減って死にそう (hara ga hette shinisou)
腹が減って動けない (hara ga hette ugokenai)
腹が減る時間 (hara ga heru jikan)
腹が減る感覚 (hara ga heru kankaku)
腹が減る仕組み (hara ga heru shikumi)
腹が減るのを忘れる (hara ga heru no o wasureru)

Common Phrases

腹が減った (I'm hungry)

腹減ったー (I'm staaarving!)

腹が減ってきた (Starting to get hungry)

腹が減っては戦はできぬ (Can't fight on an empty stomach)

腹が減る一方だ (Getting hungrier and hungrier)

腹が減るまで待つ (Wait until getting hungry)

腹が減るのが早い (Get hungry quickly)

腹が減る前に食べる (Eat before getting hungry)

腹が減るのを我慢する (Endure hunger)

腹が減ってたまらない (Can't stand being hungry)

Often Confused With

腹が減る vs お腹が空く

Standard/Polite version.

腹が減る vs 空腹

Formal/Academic noun.

腹が減る vs 腹が立つ

Means 'to get angry', not hungry.

Idioms & Expressions

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Easily Confused

腹が減る vs 減らす (herasu)

腹が減る vs 空く (suku)

腹が減る vs 空く (aku)

腹が減る vs 腹 (hara)

腹が減る vs 胃 (i)

Sentence Patterns

[Time]になると腹が減る

12時になると腹が減る。

[Activity]の後は腹が減る

水泳の後は腹が減る。

腹が減って[Result]

腹が減って死にそうだ。

腹が減ったから[Action]

腹が減ったからコンビニに行く。

急に腹が減る

会議中に急に腹が減った。

ちっとも腹が減らない

今日はちっとも腹が減らない。

腹が減るのを待つ

腹が減るのを待ってから食べる。

腹が減るたびに[Action]

腹が減るたびにチョコを食べる。

Word Family

Related

How to Use It

gender

Traditionally masculine, but context-dependent.

nuance

Visceral and direct.

formality

Informal/Casual.

Common Mistakes
  • Using it with a boss or teacher.
  • Using the present tense 'heru' to mean 'I am hungry now'.
  • Mixing up 'heru' (intransitive) and 'herasu' (transitive).
  • Saying 'i ga heru' instead of 'hara ga heru'.
  • Using it in formal written reports.

Tips

Match your audience

Only use 'hara ga heru' with people you are close to. When in doubt, use 'onaka ga suku'.

Use past tense

Say 'hara ga hetta' when you feel hungry right now. The present 'heru' is for general statements.

Anime connection

Watch Shonen anime to hear the most natural (and exaggerated) uses of this phrase.

Learn the proverb

Memorize 'Hara ga hette wa ikusa wa dekinu' to sound more like a native speaker.

Visceral feel

Think of 'hara' as your 'gut'. It's a more physical, less 'polite' way of talking about your body.

Flat pitch

Keep the pitch flat (Heiban) to sound natural.

Kanji practice

Practice writing 腹 (belly) and 減 (decrease) as they are common JLPT N3/N2 kanji.

Group dynamics

Notice how groups of men often use this phrase to bond over a shared need for food.

Setting the scene

Use this phrase in stories to establish a casual, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Try 'Onaka ga heru'

If 'hara' feels too rough, 'onaka ga heru' is a common middle-ground expression.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine your 'Hara' (belly) is a balloon and the air is 'Heru-ing' (decreasing/hissing out) until it's flat.

Word Origin

Old Japanese

Cultural Context

A staple phrase for protagonists in Shonen manga to show they are relatable and human.

Deeply linked to the idea that physical readiness precedes mental or military action.

Historically masculine, but increasingly used by all genders in very casual settings.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Conversation Starters

"「そろそろ腹が減ってこない？」 (Aren't you starting to get hungry?)"

"「腹が減ったんだけど、何かいい店知ってる？」 (I'm hungry, do you know any good restaurants?)"

"「運動したら、めちゃくちゃ腹が減ったよ。」 (I got really hungry after exercising.)"

"「腹が減りすぎて、何でも食べられそう。」 (I'm so hungry I could eat anything.)"

"「まだ腹が減ってないから、後で食べよう。」 (I'm not hungry yet, so let's eat later.)"

Journal Prompts

今日、一番腹が減ったのはいつですか？ (When were you hungriest today?)

腹が減った時に、一番食べたいものは何ですか？ (What do you want to eat most when you're hungry?)

「腹が減っては戦はできぬ」と思った経験はありますか？ (Have you ever felt 'you can't fight on an empty stomach'?)

腹が減ると、あなたの性格はどう変わりますか？ (How does your personality change when you get hungry?)

最近、腹が減るのを忘れるほど何かに没頭しましたか？ (Have you been so immersed in something lately that you forgot to get hungry?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It's not 'rude' among friends, but it is too casual for formal situations. Use 'onaka ga suku' with superiors.

Yes, but it sounds very casual or slightly tomboyish. Most women use 'onaka ga suku' in public.

In casual speech, the particle 'ga' is often dropped for speed and natural flow.

'Heru' means to decrease (volume/energy), while 'suku' means to become empty. Both are used for hunger.

It's a cute, colloquial way to say 'starving,' often used by children.

Generally no. It's too informal for a professional setting.

You can say 'Mechakucha hara ga hetta' or 'Shinu hodo hara ga hetta'.

The kanji is 腹.

The kanji is 減る.

No, that is incorrect. Use 'hara' or 'onaka'.

Test Yourself 180 questions

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