Daily Phrase

How to Say “Feeling a Little Hungry” in Korean

Learn how Koreans naturally say “I’m a little hungry” or “I’m feeling peckish.”

Have you ever eaten an early dinner and then felt a little hungry around 11 p.m.?

You’re not starving, but you kind of want something to eat.

In Korean, we often say:

출출해요.I’m a little hungry. / I’m feeling peckish.

It means you are a little hungry or feeling peckish.

What Does “출출해요” Mean?

출출해요 is used when you feel slightly hungry, but not hungry enough to say:

배고파요.I’m hungry.

For example, maybe you had dinner a few hours ago and now you want a small snack.

You can say:

좀 출출해요.I’m a little hungry.

Or:

출출한데 뭐 먹을까요?I’m feeling a little hungry. Should we eat something?

“출출해요” vs. “배고파요”

The difference is mostly about how hungry you are.

배고파요.I’m hungry.
출출해요.I’m a little hungry. / I’m feeling peckish.

And if you are really hungry, Koreans sometimes say:

배고파 죽겠어!I’m starving!

For example, when my friends and I are ordering food, someone might ask:

너 얼마나 배고파?How hungry are you?

Then I might answer:

배고파 죽겠어.I’m starving.

Or:

그냥 출출한 정도?Just a little hungry, I guess?

When Do Koreans Use “출출해요”?

You’ll often hear it:

  • between meals
  • late at night
  • when you want a snack
  • when you’re hungry, but not enough for a full meal

For example:

밤만 되면 출출해요.I always get a little hungry at night.
좀 출출한데 뭐 먹을래?I’m a little hungry. Do you want to eat something?

It’s a very natural everyday expression, so if you usually just say 배고파요, try using 출출해요 next time you’re only a little hungry.

Want to Hear How Koreans Actually Use “출출해요”?

Watch my short video for the pronunciation and a real-life example.

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