Translation guide
To gradually become thinner, weaker, or less substantial, often due to illness, neglect, or lack of use.
Describing a person or animal losing weight and strength over time, often due to a serious condition.
To become gaunt and haggard, often from illness or worry. Emphasizes the visible effect on appearance.
彼は長い闘病生活でやつれてしまった。
He wasted away during his long illness.
To become physically weak and debilitated. A more clinical term, often used in medical contexts.
栄養失調で衰弱している患者がいる。
There are patients wasting away from malnutrition.
Literally 'become skin and bones'. A vivid, common expression for extreme weight loss.
彼女は拒食症で骨と皮になってしまった。
She wasted away to skin and bones from anorexia.
To grow thin and weak. A compound verb that explicitly combines 'lose weight' and 'decline'.
老人は日に日に痩せ衰えていった。
The old man wasted away day by day.
Describing something abstract like time, money, or hope slowly being used up or fading away.
To be wasted or squandered. Used for resources like money, time, or energy.
彼の財産はギャンブルで浪費された。
His fortune wasted away through gambling.
To fade away or vanish gradually. Suitable for hopes, dreams, or intangible things.
希望が少しずつ消えていった。
Hope slowly wasted away.
To pass in vain or be spent fruitlessly. Often used for time or life.
彼は何もせずに人生をむなしく過ごした。
He let his life waste away doing nothing.
Describing atrophy or weakening of a body part from lack of use, often in medical or fitness contexts.
To atrophy or shrink. The standard medical term for muscle wasting.
寝たきりだと筋肉が萎縮する。
Muscles waste away if you're bedridden.
To degenerate or atrophy. Can be used for organs or functions that diminish from disuse.
使わないと能力は退化する。
Abilities waste away if not used.
やつれる focuses on the visible gauntness and haggard appearance, often from emotional distress or illness. 衰弱する is more about physical weakness and debilitation, commonly used in medical reports.
The English phrase 'waste away' is often used figuratively. A direct translation like 無駄にする (to waste something) is incorrect for physical decline. Use the appropriate verb for the context.