老い
Meanings
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Refers to the state or process of becoming old. Often used in reflective or slightly serious contexts, as in 老いを感じる or 老いの不安.
Lately I feel my age when I climb stairs.
She spoke quietly about her fears of aging.
old person; the elderly; the aged
A limited noun use referring to old people, most natural in set or literary-sounding expressions such as 老いも若きも. In ordinary modern prose, 高齢者, 老人, or 年寄り is usually more direct.
Both old and young gathered at the festival.
Usage patterns
- 老いを感じるto feel one's age / sense the effects of aging
Lately I feel my age just from climbing stairs.
- 老いに抗うto resist/fight against aging
She keeps exercising to fight against aging.
- 老いが進むfor aging to progress/advance
My mother's aging suddenly advanced after her illness.
- 老いを迎えるto enter/reach old age
He says he wants to spend his old age in a quiet countryside.
- 老いも若きもold and young alike; people of all ages
People of all ages, young and old, gathered for the festival.
Expressions
- 老いの繰り言repetitious harping of the elderly; old person's rambling
- 老いては子に従えwhen old, obey your children
- 少年老い易く学成り難しstudy hard while you are young
- 老いたる馬は道を忘れずtrust the judgement of the experienced; an old horse won't forget the way
- 老いては益々壮んなるべしman flourishes with age
- 麒麟も老いぬれば駑馬に劣るeven a great person declines with age