Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'become hungry' is most naturally done with the adjective お腹が空く (onaka ga suku) or the verb 空く (suku). The phrase お腹が空いた (onaka ga suita) in the past tense is the most common way to say 'I'm hungry' (literally 'my stomach has become empty').
I think I'll get hungry soon.
Verb meaning 'to become empty' or 'to become hungry'. Used without お腹 in casual speech, but お腹が空く is more common.
腹減った？
You hungry? (very casual)
More formal/literary expression meaning 'to become hungry'. Used in writing or formal speech.
長時間の会議で空腹になった。
I became hungry during the long meeting.
Describing the process of becoming hungry, often with time or conditions.
Expresses that one is starting to feel hungry. 〜てくる indicates a gradual change.
歩いていたらお腹が空いてきた。
I started to get hungry as I was walking.
Literally 'stomach begins to become empty'. Emphasizes the start of hunger.
夕方になるとお腹が空き始める。
I start to get hungry in the evening.
Expressing intense hunger.
Avoid directly translating 'become hungry' as 飢える (ueru), which means 'to starve' and is much stronger. Use お腹が空く for normal hunger.
In Japanese, the past tense お腹が空いた is used to express the current state of being hungry, similar to 'I'm hungry' in English. The non-past お腹が空く refers to the general process or future.