すがれる

す

が

れ

る

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

wither; fade; shrivel

usually written using kana alone

Primarily used for plants losing vitality, especially as winter approaches. The cross-reference to 末枯れる (うらがれる) suggests a similar nuance of tips or edges dying back.

See also: 末枯れる (うらがれる)

秋あきが深ふかまると、庭にわの草くさ花ばながすがれて

いく

。

As autumn deepens, the garden plants wither away.

すがれた葉はが風かぜに舞まっている。

Withered leaves are dancing in the wind.

2

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

pass one's prime; deteriorate; decline

usually written using kana alone

Figurative extension: describes people, beauty, or vitality fading with age or time. Often carries a poetic or slightly literary tone.

彼かの女じょの美び貌ぼうも年としとともにすがれてしまった。
Her beauty has faded with the years.
才さい能のうがすがれないように、日ひ々び努ど力りょくを続つづけている。
I keep working every day so that my talent won't decline.

Written forms

すがれるUsage100%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 尽れる, 末枯れる, and 闌れる are rare and may not be recognized by many readers.
尽すがれる
Rare kanji form; the character 尽 suggests exhaustion or ending, fitting the meaning of withering or decline.
末す枯がれる
Rare kanji form; literally 'tip-wither', evoking the image of plants dying back from the tips.
闌すがれる
Rare kanji form; 闌 is an uncommon character associated with decline or ending.

Kanji

尽exhaust, use up, run out of
末end, close, tip
枯wither, die, dry up
闌rise high, be well along

Similar words

枯かれる
枯れる is the common word for plants withering or dying, while すがれる is more specific to the gradual decline toward winter or the end of a season, and is less common.
衰おとろえる
衰える is the standard word for decline in strength, health, or ability. すがれる is more poetic and often applied to beauty or seasonal withering.

Etymology

The origin is uncertain. It may be related to すがる (to cling) with a shift in meaning, but this is speculative. The kanji forms are ateji or semantic matches rather than etymologically motivated.