gei1 ngo6饑餓饥饿

Jyutpinggei1 ngo6

Yalegēi ngoh

Definition

Hunger or starvation.

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How it's used

Native speakers rarely use the formal term 饑餓 in daily life, preferring the more natural and direct 肚餓. While 饑餓 sounds like a clinical or literary description of starvation, 肚餓 is the standard way to express the physical sensation of needing food. Using 饑餓 in a casual setting can sound overly dramatic or like you are reading from a textbook.

Common phrases

gik6極dou6度gei1饑ngo6餓

extreme hunger

Common mistake

Learners often use 饑餓 to describe their own appetite, but this sounds unnatural and overly formal. Stick to 肚餓 for everyday hunger, and reserve 饑餓 for discussions about famine or extreme biological states.