starve

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 餓 denotes starvation; the source lists only the on-reading が.
• Basic usage: 餓死 means death by starvation, while 餓鬼 can mean a hungry ghost or, disparagingly, a brat.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 餓死 / 餓鬼
  • 餓死: This noun refers to dying from starvation or to a death caused by starvation. Example: その歴史小説は飢饉で餓死する人々の苦しみを描いている。
  • 餓鬼: This word can refer to a hungry ghost and can also be a disparaging word for a child. Example: 乱暴な少年が年下の子に「この餓鬼」と怒鳴りました。