飢える

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 飢える (うえる) is an ichidan intransitive verb for lacking food or intensely craving something such as knowledge.
• Basic usage: 食べ物に飢えていた describes animals literally starving during drought, while 知識に飢えていた figuratively expresses an intense desire to learn.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Physical deprivation and intellectual hunger
  • 食べ物に飢える concerns deprivation of a survival resource, whereas 知識に飢える is metaphorical desire. The latter does not imply malnutrition.