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年を食う (としをくう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, godan verb (-u)
grow older (than expected) ; advance in age
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression often used when someone seems older than their actual years or when age catches up with them. Can carry a nuance of surprise or mild regret.
まだ
若わか
い
の
に
、
年とし
を
食く
っ
て
見み
える
。
He looks older than he is, even though he's still young.
Written forms 年とし を 食く う
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
歳とし を 食く う
Alternate kanji spelling using 歳, which specifically means 'age'.
Etymology The expression combines 年 (year/age) with 食う (to eat, but here used idiomatically to mean 'to consume' or 'to take on' years). The exact origin is uncertain, but it likely derives from the idea of years 'eating away' at one's youth or vitality.
