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Kotomora

衰

decline, wane, weaken

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • スイ

Kun'yomi

  • おとろ.える

Meaning

衰 centers on a gradual loss of strength or vitality: declining, waning, or weakening over time.

Most common words using 衰

20 of 50
  • 衰退すいたい
    N1

    decline; degeneration; decay; waning; ebbing

  • 衰えおとろえ

    weakening; emaciation; decline

  • 衰弱すいじゃく

    weakness; debility; breakdown; prostration

  • 減衰げんすい

    attenuation; damping; decay

  • 衰えるおとろえる
    N2

    to become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither; to waste away

  • 老衰ろうすい
    N1

    senility; senile decay; infirmity (through age)

  • 盛衰せいすい

    rise and fall; ups and downs; welfare; vicissitudes

  • 栄枯盛衰えいこせいすい

    ups and downs of life; vicissitudes of fortune

  • 必衰ひっすい

    inevitable decline (decay, collapse, etc.)

  • 衰亡すいぼう

    decline and fall; ruin; downfall; collapse

  • 古び衰えるふるびおとろえる

    to waste away

  • やせ衰えるやせおとろえる

    to become emaciated; to waste away; to grow thin and worn out

  • エコー減衰器エコーげんすいき

    echo suppressor

  • 五衰ごすい

    five signs of the impending death of a heavenly being

  • 全身衰弱ぜんしんすいじゃく

    general prostration

  • 反射減衰量はんしゃげんすいりょう

    return loss

  • 弱り衰えるよわりおとろえる

    to languish

  • 消長盛衰しょうちょうせいすい

    prosperity and decay; rise and fall; ebb and flow; vicissitudes (of fortune)

  • 減衰ひずみげんすいひずみ

    attenuation distortion

  • 減衰係数げんすいけいすう

    attenuation coefficient

Explore all words using 衰 →

Study

Etymology

衰 originally depicted a raincoat made of straw or grass, which weakens and declines with use. The modern form retains the 衣 (clothing) component, but the inner part has been simplified and its exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a worn-out coat (衣) that is falling apart at the seams. The fraying fabric represents decline and weakening.

Reading mnemonic

For スイ, imagine a swimmer (スイマー) whose strength declines as they tire in the water: swimmer -> スイ, and their energy wanes.