Learn Hardcore Korean: jeoneun jigeum baega gopayo.

는 is the topic marker. It sets “me” as the topic, meaning “as for me…”. It doesn’t make “저” the grammatical subject of the predicate; it just frames the sentence. In everyday speech, you can often drop it: 저 지금 배가 고파요.

Why use 저 instead of 나?

저 is the humble/polite “I.” It matches the polite ending -요. Use:

저 … 고파요 (polite)
나 … 배고파 (casual) Using 나 with -요 (나 배고파요) happens in casual speech, but standard matching is better for learners.

Can I omit 저는?

Yes. Subjects/topics are often omitted when obvious. Common, natural options:

지금 배가 고파요.
배고파요. (most common) Keep 저는 when you want contrast or clarity (e.g., 다른 사람은 괜찮은데 저는 배가 고파요).

Why 배가 and not just 배?

가 is the subject marker. Here, the literal structure is “the stomach is hungry,” so 배가 is the subject of 고파요. In casual speech, people often drop the particle: 배 고파요.

Why 배가 and not 배는?

는 on 배 would make “stomach” the contrastive topic (배는 고파요 = “As for my stomach, [it] is hungry”), implying a contrast with something else (e.g., 마음은 편해요). For a neutral statement of fact, use 배가.

Is the sentence literally “My stomach is hungry”? Do I need to say “my”?

Yes, the literal Korean is “(my) stomach is hungry,” but Korean often omits possessives when the possessor is obvious. You can say 제 배가 고파요, but it’s usually unnecessary unless you need to disambiguate.

What’s the difference between 배가 고파요 and 배고파요?

Both are natural and mean the same. 배고프다 is a lexicalized descriptive verb (“to be hungry”). 배가 고프다 is the literal “stomach is hungry.” In conversation, 배고파요 is extremely common and slightly simpler.

Can I drop 가 after 배?

Yes in speech: 배 고파요 is common. In careful or formal writing, keep the particle: 배가 고파요.

What is 고파요 from, and why not 고퍼요?

The dictionary form is 고프다 (“to be hungry”). It’s an ㅡ-irregular descriptive verb:

고프다 + -아요 → 고파요 (the ㅡ drops; look at the vowel before ㅡ, ㅗ → use -아) Other forms:
Past: 고팠어요
Future: 고플 거예요
Attributive: 고픈 (e.g., 배가 고픈 사람)

Is 고프다 an adjective or a verb? Do I need -고 있어요 for “am hungry”?

Korean “descriptive verbs” behave like adjectives and conjugate like verbs. Present tense (고파요) already expresses a current state. Don’t use -고 있어요 with states like this (배고프고 있어요 is unnatural).

Where should 지금 go? Is it necessary?

지금 is an adverb meaning “now.” It’s optional and adds emphasis (“right now”). Natural placements:

저는 지금 배가 고파요.
지금 배고파요.
지금 저는 배가 고파요 (okay, a bit marked) Avoid putting it after the verb (… 고파요 지금) unless for special emphasis in speech.

What’s the difference between 지금 and 이제 here?

지금 = “now (at this moment).”
이제 = “now, from now, at this point (as opposed to before).” 이제 배고파요 suggests a change (“Now I’m hungry [I wasn’t before]”).

How do I make this casual or more formal?

Casual: 나 지금 배고파. / 배고파.
Polite (current sentence): 저는 지금 배가 고파요. / 지금 배고파요.
Formal polite: 저는 지금 배가 고픕니다. / 지금 배고픕니다.

How do I ask someone politely “Are you hungry?” Is 배고프세요 okay?

Yes:

Polite: 배고파요? / 지금 배고파요?
With honorific: 배고프세요? / 지금 배고프세요? Using -시- (세요) is common and polite even though the surface subject can be a body part (e.g., 머리 아프세요?).

How do I say I’m not hungry?

안 배고파요. (most common)
배가 안 고파요. (literal)
배고프지 않아요. (more formal/neutral) You can soften: 별로 안 배고파요 (“not really hungry”).

How do I talk about past or future hunger?

Past: 아까 배고팠어요. (“I was hungry earlier.”)
Future: 곧 배고플 거예요. (“I’ll be hungry soon.”)
Attributive: 배고픈 아이 (“a hungry child”).

Can I use 제가 instead of 저는?

제가 지금 배고파요 is fine when you’re identifying/contrasting the subject (“I’m the one who’s hungry [not someone else]”).
저는 is a neutral topic marker and is most common for simple statements. If you use 배가 고파요 with 제가, some speakers prefer 저는 to avoid stacking two nominatives (제가 … 배가 …), but 제가 … 배가 … is heard in real speech too.

Any related words or set phrases I should know?

배부르다 → 배불러요 (“I’m full.”)
출출하다 (“peckish”): 좀 출출해요.
Intensifier: 너무 배고파요; 배고파 죽겠어요 (“I’m starving”).
Thirsty: 목이 마르다 → 목이 말라요.

Is there any contrastive way to say it?

Yes:

지금은 배가 고파요. (“Now I’m hungry,” implying earlier I wasn’t.)
저는 배는 고파요. (odd alone, but okay in contrast: 저는 배는 고파요, 그런데 목은 안 말라요.)