è le me: 饿了么 - "Are you hungry?", Ele.me (Food Delivery App)

• Keywords: 饿了么, eleme, è le me, Chinese food delivery, China Uber Eats, food delivery app China, Alibaba food delivery, Meituan competitor, Are you hungry in Chinese, waimai, 点外卖, 饿了么 meaning.
• Summary: “饿了么” (è le me) is a phrase that perfectly captures the blend of language and modern life in China. While it literally translates to the common question, “Are you hungry?”, it is now universally recognized as the brand name for Ele.me, one of China's largest food delivery super-apps. Similar to Uber Eats or DoorDash, Ele.me (owned by Alibaba) allows users to order meals, groceries, and more directly to their doorstep. This entry explores both the linguistic breakdown of the question and the cultural significance of the app that has revolutionized convenience in urban China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): è le me
• Part of Speech: Phrase / Proper Noun (Brand Name)
• HSK Level: Components are HSK 1-3 (饿 HSK3, 了 HSK1, 么 HSK1); the phrase itself is not a specific HSK item.
• Concise Definition: A common, informal question meaning “Are you hungry?”, and the brand name of a major Chinese food delivery service.
• In a Nutshell: “饿了么” is a brilliant piece of branding. It takes the exact question a person asks themselves or a friend right before needing food—“Are you hungry?”—and turns it into a catchy, memorable brand. It represents the pinnacle of China's convenience-driven digital economy, where the solution to a basic need is just a few taps away.

• 饿 (è): To be hungry. The character is composed of the “food” radical 饣(shí) on the left and the phonetic component 我 (wǒ), meaning “I/me”. You can remember it as “I need food.”
• 了 (le): A very common grammatical particle indicating a completed action or, in this case, a change of state. It implies the transition from a state of “not hungry” to “now hungry.”
• 么 (me): A final particle that turns a statement into an informal question, similar to 吗 (ma).

When combined, `饿 (hungry) + 了 (change of state) + 么 (question particle)` forms the natural, conversational question, “Have you become hungry?” or, more simply, “Are you hungry?”.

The name “饿了么” is a masterclass in marketing that is deeply tied to modern Chinese urban culture. While a Western company might choose a functional name like “FoodDash” or an abstract one like “Caviar,” “饿了么” connects with the user on a personal, conversational level.

• Comparison to Western Concepts: Compare this to “Uber Eats.” “Uber Eats” tells you what it is: the Uber company, delivering eats (food). It's descriptive. “饿了么” speaks to the user's immediate feeling and poses the very question the service aims to solve. It's not just a name; it's the problem and the beginning of the solution rolled into one.
• The “Convenience Economy” (懒人经济 - lǎnrén jīngjì): “饿了么” is a symbol of the “lazy person economy,” a term describing the massive industry built around convenience in China. In tier-1 and tier-2 cities, life is fast-paced, and young professionals work long hours. Services like Ele.me and its main competitor, Meituan, are not just luxuries but essential tools for daily life. They reflect a cultural shift towards valuing time and efficiency, where almost anything can be delivered in under an hour, from a single cup of coffee to a full grocery order. The sight of the blue-clad Ele.me drivers (外卖小哥, wàimài xiǎogē) zipping through traffic is an iconic part of the modern Chinese city-scape.

The term “饿了么” has a distinct dual usage that learners must understand.

• As a Literal Question: In conversation, it's a very common and informal way to ask someone if they are hungry, often as a prelude to suggesting a meal. It's warm and caring.
  • “儿子，饿了么？妈妈给你做饭。” (Son, are you hungry? Mom will cook for you.)
• As the Brand Name / A Verb: This is now the most common usage. Chinese speakers frequently use the brand name as a noun and even a verb, just as English speakers “Google” something.
  • “我不想做饭，我们点个饿了么吧。” (I don't want to cook, let's order some Ele.me.)
  • “你饿了么一下，看看有什么好吃的。” (You “Ele.me” it for a bit and see what's good to eat.)

The connotation is entirely dependent on the context. With family, it's a question of care. In the context of food, it's a functional, neutral reference to the app.

• Example 1:
  • 已经中午十二点了，你饿了么？
  • Pinyin: Yǐjīng zhōngwǔ shí'èr diǎn le, nǐ è le me?
  • English: It's already 12 PM, are you hungry?
  • Analysis: This is the literal, classic use of the phrase. One friend is asking another if it's time to think about lunch.
• Example 2:
  • 我今天太累了，不想做饭，我们点饿了么吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, bùxiǎng zuòfàn, wǒmen diǎn è le me ba.
  • English: I'm too tired today and don't want to cook, let's just order from Ele.me.
  • Analysis: Here, “饿了么” is used as the proper noun for the service. “点 (diǎn)” means “to order.”
• Example 3:
  • 你看，那个穿蓝色衣服的是饿了么的骑手。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, nàge chuān lán sè yīfu de shì è le me de qíshǒu.
  • English: Look, that person in the blue uniform is an Ele.me driver.
  • Analysis: Shows how the brand name is used as an adjective to describe something related to the company, in this case, a “骑手 (qíshǒu)” or driver/rider.
• Example 4:
  • 不知道吃什么？你打开饿了么看看附近有什么推荐。
  • Pinyin: Bù zhīdào chī shénme? Nǐ dǎkāi è le me kànkan fùjìn yǒu shénme tuījiàn.
  • English: Don't know what to eat? Open up Ele.me and see what recommendations there are nearby.
  • Analysis: A very common suggestion among friends or colleagues when deciding on a meal.
• Example 5:
  • 宝贝，玩了这么久，饿了么？
  • Pinyin: Bǎobèi, wánle zhème jiǔ, è le me?
  • English: Honey, you've been playing for so long, are you hungry?
  • Analysis: A warm, caring use of the original phrase, typically from a parent to a child or between partners.
• Example 6:
  • 我的优惠券快过期了，得在饿了么上用掉。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de yōuhuìquàn kuài guòqī le, děi zài è le me shàng yòng diào.
  • English: My coupon is about to expire, I have to use it on Ele.me.
  • Analysis: Highlights the ecosystem around the app, which includes promotions and “优惠券 (yōuhuìquàn)” or coupons.
• Example 7:
  • 你更喜欢用饿了么还是美团？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ gèng xǐhuān yòng è le me háishì Měituán?
  • English: Do you prefer using Ele.me or Meituan?
  • Analysis: A common question in China, referencing the duopoly of the food delivery market. This is like asking “Do you prefer Uber Eats or DoorDash?”.
• Example 8:
  • A: 快七点了，你饿了么？ (Kuài qī diǎn le, nǐ è le me?) - It's almost 7 o'clock, are you hungry?
  • B: 饿了，我正在饿了么上点菜呢。(È le, wǒ zhèngzài è le me shàng diǎn cài ne.) - I am, I'm ordering on Ele.me right now.
  • Analysis: A fantastic example showing both meanings in a single, realistic conversation.
• Example 9:
  • 外面下大雨，幸亏可以叫饿了么。
  • Pinyin: Wàimiàn xià dàyǔ, xìngkuī kěyǐ jiào è le me.
  • English: It's raining heavily outside, thank goodness we can order Ele.me.
  • Analysis: “叫 (jiào)” here means “to call for” or “to order.” This demonstrates the app's utility and role in daily convenience.
• Example 10:
  • 我来中国以后，饿了么彻底改变了我的生活方式。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ lái Zhōngguó yǐhòu, è le me chèdǐ gǎibiànle wǒ de shēnghuó fāngshì.
  • English: After I came to China, Ele.me completely changed my lifestyle.
  • Analysis: This sentence captures the massive cultural and social impact of the app, especially from an expat's perspective.

• Mistaking the Brand for the Question: The most common pitfall. If a friend says, “我饿了么一下 (wǒ è le me yíxià),” they are NOT saying “I am hungry for a moment.” They are saying, “I'll quickly order something on Ele.me.” The verb “一下 (yíxià)” indicates doing something for a short while, here meaning to quickly browse and order from the app.
• 饿了么 (è le me) vs. 饿了吗 (è le ma): These sound identical. 吗 (ma) is the standard textbook question particle. 么 (me) is a more colloquial, informal version. When asking the question “Are you hungry?”, both are generally acceptable in speech and informal text. However, the brand name is always written with 么 (me). Using 吗 (ma) would be incorrect when referring to the app.
• Using it as a Statement: “饿了么” is a question. To state that you are hungry, you say “我饿了 (wǒ è le).” A beginner might mistakenly say “我饿了么” to mean “I am hungry,” which is grammatically incorrect. It's like saying “Am I hungry?” when you mean “I am hungry.”

• 美团外卖 (měituán wàimài): The main competitor to Ele.me. Meituan is a massive “super-app” and its yellow-clad drivers are just as common as Ele.me's blue ones.
• 外卖 (wàimài): The general term for “food delivery” or “takeout.” Both Ele.me and Meituan are platforms for ordering wàimài.
• 点餐 (diǎn cān): To order food, specifically from a menu. You use an app like Ele.me to 点餐.
• 外卖小哥 (wàimài xiǎogē): The colloquial and affectionate term for a food delivery driver (literally “takeout little brother”). A key part of the delivery ecosystem.
• 懒人经济 (lǎnrén jīngjì): The “lazy economy” or “convenience economy.” The socio-economic trend that fuels the success of apps like Ele.me.
• 阿里巴巴 (ālǐbābā): The massive tech conglomerate that owns Ele.me.
• 我饿了 (wǒ è le): The direct statement, “I'm hungry.” This is the answer to the question “你饿了么?”.
• 骑手 (qíshǒu): A more formal term for a delivery driver, meaning “rider” or “cyclist.”
• 吃货 (chīhuò): A slang term for a “foodie,” someone who loves to eat. The primary target audience for food delivery apps.