noun
Refers to the state of being hungry or lacking food, often with a nuance of prolonged or severe hunger. Can be used literally or figuratively (e.g., hunger for knowledge).
多くの人々が飢えに苦しんでいる。
Many people are suffering from hunger.
彼は知識への飢えを持っている。
He has a hunger for knowledge.
Derived from the verb 飢える (うえる, 'to starve'), with the 連用形 (continuative form) used as a noun. The kanji 飢 is associated with hunger and starvation.