When learning Japanese, one of the most useful things to master early on is how to talk about physical sensations and conditions—things like being hungry, thirsty, sick, cold, sleepy, or in pain.

In English, we usually say “I am hungry / I am tired,” but in Japanese the pattern is a little different. Most sensations are expressed using a noun + が + verb (usually an intransitive verb).

Let’s break it down with the most common examples!

🍙 1. お腹なかが空すいた — I’m hungry

Literally: “My stomach became empty.”

• お腹なか = stomach
• 空すく= to become empty

Examples:

• お腹なかが空すいた。I’m hungry.
• もうお腹なかがぺこぺこ！ I’m starving!

🥤 2. 喉のどが渇かわいた — I’m thirsty

Literally: “My throat has become dry.”

• 喉のど = throat
• 渇かわく = to get dry

Examples:

• 喉のどが渇かわいたから、水みずを飲のみたい。
  I’m thirsty, so I want to drink water.
• 走はしった後あとはいつも喉のどが渇かわく。
  I always get thirsty after running.

😴 3. 眠ねむい — I’m sleepy

This one is just an adjective!

Examples:

• 眠ねむい…もう寝ねてもいい？
  I’m sleepy… can I go to bed?
• 会議中かいぎちゅうなのに眠ねむくなってきた。
  I’m getting sleepy even though I’m in a meeting.

😷 4. 気分きぶんが悪わるい — I feel sick / I feel unwell

• 気分きぶん = feeling/mood
• 悪わるい = bad

Examples:

• ちょっと気分きぶんが悪わるいです。
  I feel a little sick.
• 車くるまに乗のると気分きぶんが悪わるくなる。
  I get carsick.

😖 5. 頭あたまが痛いたい — My head hurts / I have a headache

Literally: “My head is painful.”

• 頭あたま = head
• 痛いたい = painful

You can replace 頭あたま with any body part!

• お腹なかが痛いたい — I have a stomachache
• 歯はが痛いたい — I have a toothache
• 背中せなかが痛いたい — My back hurts

Examples:

• 頭あたまが痛いたくて集中しゅうちゅうできない。
  I can’t concentrate because my head hurts.

🧊 6. 寒さむい / 暑あつい — I’m cold / hot

These are adjectives, not が-sentences.

Examples:

• 今日きょうは寒さむいね。
  It’s cold today.
• 外そとが暑あつすぎる！
  It’s way too hot outside!

😵 7. だるい — I feel sluggish / drained

A common word for that heavy, tired feeling.

Examples:

• 今日きょうは体からだがだるい。
  My body feels sluggish today.
• 風邪かぜのときはだるくなる。
  I get sluggish when I have a cold.

🌟 Key Point: Japanese focuses on the body part or sensation, not “I am…”

English:

I’m hungry.
Japanese:
お腹なかが空すいた。 (My stomach got empty.)

English:

I have a headache.
Japanese:
頭あたまが痛いたい。 (My head is painful.)

Instead of “I,” the sentence often puts the spotlight on what part of the body or what condition is happening.

🎌 Summary Table

✨ Final Tip

If you’re ever unsure, remember:
Japanese sensations often use “Noun + が + Verb/Adjective.”
Once you learn the nouns (お腹なか, 喉のど, 頭あたま, etc.), you can express a lot!

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