Translation guide
The period of life when a person is old and weak, often implying mental decline. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific terms for senility or old age, as well as descriptive phrases.
Referring to the state of mental decline in old age, often characterized by childish behavior or forgetfulness.
A common term for senility, dotage, or second childhood. Often used in the phrase もうろくする (to become senile).
My grandfather has become senile and has forgotten who I am.
Kanji form of もうろく, more common in written or formal contexts.
A senile old man was lost on the street.
A somewhat derogatory term for a dotard or senile old person. Can be used self-deprecatingly.
I'm just a dotard now, I can't learn new things.
Refers to senility or dementia, often used in the phrase ぼける (to become senile). Can be blunt.
My grandmother has gone senile and can no longer recognize her family's faces.
Describing the phase of life when one is old and frail, often with diminished mental faculties.
An old-fashioned meaning of dotage as foolish infatuation, often in love. Rarely used in modern English.
Means doting or excessive love, but not specifically tied to old age. Used for any blind affection.
He dotes on his grandchild.
There is no exact single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'dotage'. Use もうろく for senility, or descriptive phrases like 老衰期 for the period of old age decline. Direct translation attempts may sound unnatural.
もうろく implies general senility and childishness, while ぼけ is more strongly associated with dementia and cognitive decline. ぼけ can be more direct and potentially offensive.
Even in his dotage, he remained gentle.