noun
emaciation; gauntness; haggardness
Describes a state of being thin and worn-out, often from illness, exhaustion, or hardship. Commonly used in expressions like やつれた顔 (haggard face).
彼のやつれた顔を見て、心配になった。
Seeing his haggard face, I became worried.
長い闘病生活で、彼女はすっかりやつれてしまった。
After a long illness, she became completely emaciated.
痩せる means to lose weight or become thin in a general sense, while やつれ specifically implies a worn-out, unhealthy thinness.
憔悴 is a more formal or literary term for haggardness or exhaustion, often used in written language.
Derived from the verb やつれる (to become haggard). The exact origin is uncertain, but it may be related to the idea of becoming worn down or exhausted.