1.
starving; very hungry; famished
A casual, somewhat childlike expression for being extremely hungry. Often used lightheartedly.
もう腹ぺこだ！
I'm starving!
腹ぺこで何も考えられない。
I'm so hungry I can't think straight.
子供たちは腹ぺこで学校から帰ってきた。
The kids came home from school starving.
USAGE:
腹ぺこ is a casual, playful way to say "very hungry." It is common in everyday speech and children's language. The famous children's book "はらぺこあおむし" (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) uses this word.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 腹ぺこで死にそう (so hungry I could die)
- 腹ぺこの状態 (a state of being famished)
SIMILAR WORDS:
お腹がすいた is the standard way to say "I'm hungry." 腹ぺこ is more emphatic and informal, expressing extreme hunger in a lighthearted way. 空腹 is the formal equivalent.