初しょ老ろう

しょ

ろ

う

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun

past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly

Refers to the stage of life when one begins to feel the approach of old age, typically around the 40s to early 60s. Often used in formal or written contexts.

彼かれは初しょ老ろうの男だん性せいだが、とても元げん気きだ。
He is a man past middle age, but he is very energetic.
初しょ老ろうの夫ふう婦ふが公こう園えんを散さん歩ぽしていた。
An elderly couple nearing old age was taking a walk in the park.

noun

age 40 (original meaning)

Historically, 初老 referred specifically to the age of 40. This usage is now rare and mainly found in classical or explanatory contexts.

古ふるくは、初しょ老ろうは40歳さいを指さす言こと葉ばだった。
In the past, 初老 was a term that referred to the age of 40.

Usage patterns

初しょ老ろうの〈人ひと〉a person who is past middle age (often a man)
初しょ老ろうの男だん性せいが公こう園えんのベンチに座すわっていた。
A man past middle age was sitting on a bench in the park.
〈人ひと〉が初しょ老ろうにさしかかるfor someone to be approaching the stage of nearing old age
彼かれは最さい近きん、初しょ老ろうにさしかかってきたと感かんじている。
He's recently begun to feel that he's approaching that near-elderly stage of life.

Kanji

初first time, beginning
老old man, old age, grow old

Related words

中ちゅう年ねんN3sense 1
中年 refers broadly to middle age (roughly 40s–50s), while 初老 specifically carries the nuance of beginning to feel the approach of old age.
熟じゅく年ねん sense 1
熟年 describes a mature, experienced stage of adulthood with a positive tone, whereas 初老 emphasizes the onset of aging, often with a slightly wistful nuance.
老ろう年ねん sense 1
老年 refers to old age itself (typically 65+), a later stage than 初老, which describes the transitional period leading up to it.

Opposites

若じゃく年ねん sense 1
若年 means a young age, the opposite end of the age spectrum from 初老, which marks the approach of old age.

Etymology

Compound of 初 (first, beginning) and 老 (old age). Originally denoted the age of 40, considered the start of old age in classical Japanese thought. Modern usage has shifted to a broader sense of 'past middle age'.