# How to say “I'm hungry” in Chinese

> The mildest way to say “I'm hungry” in Chinese is 饿了 (è le), “i'm hungry”. The strongest is 我能吃一头牛 (wǒ néng chī yì tóu niú), “i could eat a whole cow”. Here are all 5, ranked mild to strong, with pinyin and when to use each one.

Source: https://lanlanchinese.com/how-to-say/hungry-in-chinese (updated 2026-10-18)

1. **饿了** (è le) (strength 1/5): i'm hungry. The normal way.
   Heard in a real video: 我就太饿了。 "I was just so hungry." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M9YvhkB2ps&t=215s)
   Heard in a real video: 那等下饿了你吃什么呀。 "Then what are you going to eat when you get hungry?" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrdR2nWLwaw&t=5s)
2. **好饿** (hǎo è) (strength 2/5): so hungry. Dinner is late.
   Heard in a real video: 感觉肚子好饿。 "I felt so hungry." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NivLuIY7ULk&t=1s)
   Heard in a real video: 可是肚子还是好饿。 "But its tummy was still hungry." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKLZCeA1v3k&t=53s)
3. **饿扁了** (è biǎn le) (strength 3/5): starving (lit. hungry flat). Skipped lunch.
4. **饿得发慌** (è de fā huāng) (strength 4/5): so hungry i'm shaking. Hands shaking, need food now.
5. **我能吃一头牛** (wǒ néng chī yì tóu niú) (strength 5/5): i could eat a whole cow. Say it right before hotpot.

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