衰おとろえ

お

と

ろ

え

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

noun

weakening; decline; emaciation

Refers to a loss of strength, vitality, or power, whether physical, mental, or abstract. Often used for aging, health, or the decline of institutions.

年としを取とると体たい

力りょく

の

衰おとろ

え

を

感かん

じる

。

As you get older, you feel a decline in physical strength.

その国くには経けい済ざいの衰おとろえに直ちょく面めんしている。

The country is facing an economic decline.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の衰おとろえを感かんじるto feel the decline of something (e.g. one's strength)
最さい近きん、体たい力りょくの衰おとろえを感かんじる。
Lately I've been feeling my physical strength decline.
衰おとろえを見みせるto show signs of decline
彼かれは年としを取とっても衰おとろえを見みせない。
Even as he ages, he shows no signs of decline.
〈物もの〉の衰おとろえを防ふせぐto prevent the decline of something
運うん動どうは筋きん力りょくの衰おとろえを防ふせぐ。
Exercise prevents the decline of muscle strength.
衰おとろえが目め立だつfor a decline to become noticeable
最さい近きん、会かい社しゃの業ぎょう績せきに衰おとろえが目め立だつ。
Lately, the decline in the company's performance has become noticeable.

Kanji

衰decline, wane, weaken

Related words

衰すい退たいN1
衰退 is a more formal word for decline, typically used for societies, industries, or systems, while 衰え covers personal physical or mental weakening as well as abstract decline.
衰すい弱じゃく
衰弱 refers specifically to physical debilitation, often due to illness or injury, whereas 衰え is a broader term covering physical, mental, or abstract weakening.
老ろう化かN1
老化 specifically means the decline caused by aging, while 衰え is a general term for loss of strength or vitality regardless of cause.
減げん退たい
減退 is often used for the decline of a specific function or desire (e.g. 食欲減退 loss of appetite), while 衰え is the more general word for weakening or decline.

Opposites

向こう上じょうN2
衰え means a decline or weakening, while 向上 means improvement or a rise in ability or condition.
盛さかりN2
衰え means decline or waning, the natural opposite of 盛り, which describes the peak or prime before any decline sets in.

Word family

衰おとろえるN2
weaken; decline; waste away
痩やせ衰おとろえる
become emaciated; waste away; grow thin and worn out
衰おとろえ果はてる
be utterly spent; be completely exhausted; be crushed

Written forms

衰おとろえUsage94%
Standard kanji spelling; the noun form of 衰える.
おとろえUsage6%

Etymology

Noun form of the verb 衰える (おとろえる), which is of native Japanese origin. The kanji 衰 carries the meaning of 'decline' or 'weaken'.