Meanings of 饥饿
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Podcast: 饥饿
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AI Study Notes for 饥饿
饥饿 (jī è) vs 饿 (è) — use 饥饿 for extreme hunger or starvation, while 饿 is for general hunger.
Be cautious not to confuse 饥饿 with other terms for hunger, like 空腹 (kōngfù), which specifically means 'empty stomach'. This term is more formal and is commonly used in discussions about food scarcity or health issues.
As an HSK Level 6 word, 饥饿 connects to topics on health and social issues, often used in discussions about poverty and nutrition. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in both formal writing and spoken Mandarin.
Learners often confuse 饥饿 with other words related to hunger, such as hungry (饿, è) alone. For example, saying '我饥饿' instead of '我饿' (I am hungry) is overly formal for casual conversation.
Pronunciation of 饥饿
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Component Characters
How to say hunger in Chinese
“hunger” in Chinese is饥饿
饥饿 (jī è) refers to the state of extreme hunger, often associated with a lack of food that can lead to starvation or famine. It can be used in both physical contexts, such as needing food, and metaphorical contexts, such as a 'hunger' for knowledge or success.
When to use 饥饿
Be cautious not to confuse 饥饿 with other terms for hunger, like 空腹 (kōngfù), which specifically means 'empty stomach'. This term is more formal and is commonly used in discussions about food scarcity or health issues.
饥饿 or something close to it
饥饿 (jī è) vs 饿 (è) — use 饥饿 for extreme hunger or starvation, while 饿 is for general hunger.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 饥饿 with other words related to hunger, such as hungry (饿, è) alone. For example, saying '我饥饿' instead of '我饿' (I am hungry) is overly formal for casual conversation.
Write 饥饿
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Practice writing 饥饿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 饥饿
饥饿 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
糖能快速缓解____感，但不能提供持久的营养。
Sugar gives quick relief to hunger but provides no lasting nourishment.
Example Sentences for 饥饿 (8)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 饥饿
You can say, '我感到饥饿' (Wǒ gǎndào jī è), which means 'I feel hungry'.
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