Translation guide
The English phrase 'wasting away' describes a gradual loss of physical substance, health, or vitality, often due to illness, neglect, or emotional distress. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through verbs and descriptive phrases that emphasize the process of becoming thin, weak, or diminished.
To describe someone becoming extremely thin and weak due to illness, malnutrition, or lack of food.
A verb meaning to become gaunt or haggard, often from illness or hardship. It implies a visible decline in physical condition.
彼は長い闘病生活でやつれてしまった。
He wasted away during his long illness.
A compound verb combining 'to lose weight' and 'to weaken', specifically meaning to waste away physically.
栄養不足で痩せ衰えた患者が運ばれてきた。
A patient who had wasted away from malnutrition was brought in.
An adverb/suru-verb describing a sudden, noticeable loss of weight and vitality, often with a sunken appearance.
入院中にげっそりしてしまった。
He wasted away while in the hospital.
To express a slow loss of energy, spirit, or purpose, often due to emotional distress or lack of stimulation.
A phrase meaning 'to grow weak' or 'to decline in health/strength', suitable for both physical and metaphorical wasting.
彼女は失恋してから衰弱していった。
She wasted away after her heartbreak.
Literally 'losing vitality', this phrase captures the sense of someone's life force draining away.
単調な毎日で生気が失われていくようだ。
It feels like I'm wasting away in this monotonous routine.
To describe a person or thing deteriorating due to lack of care or attention.
A verb meaning to decay, rot, or fall into ruin. Often used for abandoned places or people left to decline.
彼は誰にも看取られずに朽ち果てた。
He wasted away with no one to care for him.
A more literal phrase meaning 'to be left alone and decline', applicable to people or things.
その老人は家族に放置されて衰えていった。
The old man wasted away after being abandoned by his family.
While 痩せる (yaseru) simply means 'to lose weight', やつれる (yatsureru) implies an unhealthy, haggard appearance due to suffering or illness. Use やつれる when the weight loss is clearly negative and associated with wasting away.
彼女はダイエットで痩せたが、やつれてはいない。
She lost weight through dieting, but she hasn't wasted away.
The English phrase 'wasting away' is often used hyperbolically (e.g., 'I'm wasting away in this boring meeting'). In Japanese, such exaggeration may sound odd. Use 退屈で死にそう (taikutsu de shinisou, 'dying of boredom') or similar instead.