Meanings of 餓
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Podcast: 餓
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AI study notes for 餓
饥 (jī) — use 餓 (è) for a more intense or desperate state of hunger, while 饥 (jī) generally refers to being hungry without the same urgency.
A common mistake is to confuse 餓 (è) with other similar-sounding words. This character is typically used in informal contexts, but can be used in formal writing to express hunger. Be careful with the tone; the falling tone 'è' is essential for correct pronunciation.
Although 餓 is not listed in the HSK levels, it relates to basic vocabulary about food and hunger, which is essential for daily conversations. Students should focus on related vocabulary like 吃 (chī - to eat) and 饱 (bǎo - full) to build context.
Learners sometimes confuse 餓 (è) with 渴 (kě, thirsty) due to similar contexts. Remember that 餓 specifically refers to hunger, whereas 渴 refers to thirst.
Pronunciation of 餓
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Etymology of 餓
Simplified form of 餓. Phonosemantic compound. 飠 represents the meaning and 我 represents the sound.
To want 我 food 飠; 我 also provides the pronunciation
Origin
What kind of character is 餓?
Decomposition of 餓
Parts
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How to say hungry; greedy in Chinese
“hungry; greedy” in Chinese is餓
The character 餓 (è) means 'hungry' or 'to be starving'. It is commonly used to describe the feeling of hunger or the condition of having no food. In certain contexts, it can also imply a sense of greed or strong desire for food.
When to use 餓
A common mistake is to confuse 餓 (è) with other similar-sounding words. This character is typically used in informal contexts, but can be used in formal writing to express hunger. Be careful with the tone; the falling tone 'è' is essential for correct pronunciation.
餓 or something close to it
饥 (jī) — use 餓 (è) for a more intense or desperate state of hunger, while 饥 (jī) generally refers to being hungry without the same urgency.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 餓 (è) with 渴 (kě, thirsty) due to similar contexts. Remember that 餓 specifically refers to hunger, whereas 渴 refers to thirst.
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Word Family of 餓
Characters with 餓
What does 饿 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 餓
You can say '我饿了' (Wǒ è le), which means 'I am hungry.'
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