飢餓・饑餓|きがkiga[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounstarvation; famine; hunger
   これらの国くにでは飢餓きがが普通ふつうのことである。↗

   In these countries hunger is the rule.

• Synonym飢えうえNeutralNeutral native word for hunger or starving, as in 「飢えに苦しむ」. 「飢餓」 is a Sino-Japanese word of news and academic prose, as in 「飢餓問題」.
• Related飢渇きかつWrittenWritten/formal word for the suffering of both hunger and thirst, with nothing to eat or drink; rare today. 「飢餓」 stresses lack of food and starvation, as in 「飢餓状態」.
• Antonym飽食ほうしょくWrittenWritten/formal antonym: eating one's fill or living in plenty, as in 「飽食の時代」; the opposite of 「飢餓」, which implies lack of food.
• Antonym満腹まんぷくNeutralEveryday antonym: the feeling of a full stomach after eating, as in 「満腹になる」; the opposite of starving under 「飢餓」.

Use 「飢餓」 for starvation or famine, typical of news and academic writing. For everyday hunger say 「飢え」, for hunger and thirst 「飢渇」. For being full use 「満腹」, for a life of plenty 「飽食」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 食物しょくもつが無なくなり飢うえること。