Definitions

1. Adjective:
   • Hungry, having an empty stomach: The state of needing or wanting to eat food. This is the most common and direct meaning.
   • Feeling hunger pangs: Specifically describing the physical sensation of hunger in the stomach.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tôi đói bụng quá. Chúng ta đi ăn trưa nhé? (I am hungry. Shall we go for lunch?)
  • Sau buổi tập, các cầu thủ đều đói bụng. (After the practice, all the players were hungry.)
  • Tiếng kêu òng ọc đó là do đói bụng đấy. (That gurgling sound is from hunger.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đói bụng" vs. "Đói": While often used interchangeably, "đói bụng" can slightly emphasize the physical, stomach-based sensation of hunger. "Đói" is more general and can also be used in metaphorical contexts (e.g., - information-starved). In most everyday situations, they mean the same thing.
  • Cảm giác đói bụng thật khó chịu. (The feeling of hunger pangs is very uncomfortable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đói (adj): Hungry. The standard, more general term.
• Cồn cào (adj): Ravenous, famished (describes a stronger, more urgent hunger).
  • Tôi đói cồn cào. (I am ravenous.)
• Thèm ăn (verb phrase): To crave food, to feel like eating something specific.
• Cảm giác đói (noun phrase): The feeling/sensation of hunger.

Synonyms

• Thèm thuồng (adj): To have a craving (can be for food or other things).
• Muốn ăn (verb phrase): To want to eat.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Làm cho đói bụng: To make (someone) hungry.
  • Mùi thức ăn làm tôi đói bụng. (The smell of food made me hungry.)
• Chịu đói: To endure/go hungry.
  • Anh ấy phải chịu đói cả ngày. (He had to go hungry all day.)

Related Idioms

• Đói cho sạch, rách cho thơm: (Literally: Hungry but clean, ragged but fragrant). Meaning to maintain one's dignity and integrity even in poverty or hardship.
• Đói đầu gối phải bò: (Literally: When hungry, the knees must crawl). Meaning that necessity forces one to act.

1. như đói