Translation guide
The English word 'degenerate' can be a verb, adjective, or noun. This guide covers how to express each of these uses naturally in Japanese, from physical decline to moral decay.
His condition degenerated rapidly.
Specifically refers to degeneration in a biological or evolutionary sense, or a decline in ability.
Unused muscles degenerate.
Often used for deterioration of materials, quality, or performance.
Plastic degenerates in sunlight.
Moral degeneration, falling into depravity or corruption.
He degenerated through drink and gambling.
Describing a process where a situation turns into a more negative state.
Describing a person or behavior that is morally degenerate.
Past tense of 堕落する used as an adjective; implies moral decay.
He leads a degenerate lifestyle.
Decadent, degenerate in a cultural or artistic sense, often implying overindulgence.
degenerate art
Corrupt, rotten; used for systems, organizations, or morals.
degenerate politics
Referring to a person who is morally corrupt or debased.
A person who has fallen into moral decay.
He is a complete degenerate.
Often used for a sexual deviant or pervert, but can mean a degenerate in a broader sense.
Literally 'cripple' or 'invalid', but can refer to someone who has degenerated due to addiction or obsession.
While 堕落者 is a direct translation, it sounds quite strong and literary. In casual conversation, describing the behavior is often more natural than labeling the person.
悪化 is the most general 'worsening'. 退化 is specifically regression or atrophy. 劣化 is often used for material degradation or decline in quality.
He degenerated into a common thief.
あの男は変質者だ。
That man is a degenerate.
ゲーム廃人
a gaming degenerate (someone whose life has degenerated due to gaming addiction)