How to write 饿

饿 餓 è (Verb) 【Definition】: Severe hunger. Note: In ancient times, there was a difference in degree between “饥” (jī) and “饿” (è). “饥” refers to general hunger, while “饿” denotes severe hunger. 【Character Formation】: Phono-semantic compound. From 食 (shí, food) + the phonetic component 我 (wǒ). 【Meanings】 1. Same as the original meaning ([En.] hungry). Opposite of “饱” (bǎo). Example: 我不～，你吃吧！饥～。～殍 (I am not hungry; you eat! Starving to death). 2. To make someone experience hunger; to feel hungry ([En.] starve; hunger). Example: 注意别～坏了。 (Be careful not to starve). 3. Poverty; lack ([En.] poor). Example: 如:水田饿水;干田饿水;饿乡(缺吃的乡里) (Examples: water-scarce rice fields; dry fields lacking water; a poor village with inadequate food). 【References】 1. 《说文》: 饿，饥也。 (E explains that "饿" means to be hungry.) 2. 《六书故》: 饿，无食久馁也。 (E indicates that "饿" refers to a lengthy period without food.) 3. 《正字通》: 饿，甚于饥也。 (E states that "饿" is more severe than "饥".) 4. 有死者曰大饥，无死者曰大饿。——《谷梁传》疏引徐邈说 (If there are dead people, it is called great hunger; if there are no dead, it is called great starvation.) 5. 《淮南子·说山》: 无一月饿。 (Without food for a month.) 6. 《韩非子·饰邪》: 家有常业，虽饥不饿。 (The family has a regular income, so they may be hungry but not starving.) 【Examples】 - 饿隶 (a starving person; describes a dry and thin appearance). - 饿损 (to be badly starved). - 饿杀鬼 (dialect; a person who loves to eat). - 饿病 (illness caused by hunger).