弱る|よわるyowaru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto weaken; to grow weak; to wane; to decline (of one's health)
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be downcast; to be dejected; to be dispirited
- godan verb, intransitive verbto be troubled; to be at a loss; to be perplexed; to be annoyed
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 弱る（よわる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 弱ります（よわります） |
| Negative (nai) | 弱らない（よわらない） |
| polite (masen) | 弱りません（よわりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 弱らず・弱らぬ（よわらず・よわらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 弱った（よわった） |
| polite (mashita) | 弱りました（よわりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 弱らなかった（よわらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 弱りませんでした（よわりませんでした） |
| Te form | 弱って（よわって） |
| Potential | 弱れる（よわれる） |
| Passive | 弱られる（よわられる） |
| Causative | 弱らせる（よわらせる） |
| Causative passive | 弱らせられる・弱らされる（よわらせられる・よわらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 弱れば（よわれば） |
| tara | 弱ったら（よわったら） |
| Volitional | 弱ろう（よわろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 弱りましょう（よわりましょう） |
| Imperative | 弱れ（よわれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym衰えるおとろえるNeutralA verb for gradual decline in strength or power, as in 「体力が衰える」. Unlike 「弱る」, it does not cover being troubled or at a loss.
- Synonym減衰げんすいWrittenA noun for gradual attenuation, typically of signals or vibration; it leans toward physics and technical usage.
- Synonym衰微すいびWrittenA written-style noun typically used of nations or families in decline; it stresses a long, gradual downfall from former prosperity.
- Related衰退すいたいWrittenA formal noun for economic or industrial decline, as in 「景気の衰退」. It suits official or written contexts rather than everyday talk about health.
- Related低下ていかNeutralA neutral noun for a drop in ability or quality, as in 「視力の低下」; it stresses a lowering in level or figure rather than overall weakening.
- Related減退げんたいWrittenA written noun for the fading of appetite or vigor, as in 「食欲減退」; common in medical contexts, unlike the broader 「弱る」.
- Related衰耗すいもうWrittenA literary word for weakening and wasting away; rare in modern Japanese and mostly met in written texts.
- Related凋落ちょうらくWrittenA literary noun for flowers and trees withering, or a family business falling into ruin; carries a poetic flavor absent from 「弱る」.
- Related低まるひくまるNeutralA verb for becoming lower in level or degree; comparatively rare, with everyday speech preferring 「低くなる」.
- Related式微しきびWrittenA written word for extreme decline, with a classical Chinese flavor; rare today and far more literary than 「弱る」.
- Antonym強まるつよまるNeutralThe antonym: a verb for growing stronger or gaining force, the opposite of the weakening sense of 「弱る」.
- Antonym元気になるNeutralA phrase for regaining one's energy and spirits, the opposite of 「弱る」 when it means growing weak or dispirited.
Use 「弱る」 for growing physically weak or for being troubled and at a loss, as in 「体が弱る」 and 「弱ったなあ」. For gradual decline say 「衰える」; for the economy 「衰退」; for falling ability or quality 「低下」; for appetite or vigor 「減退」; to strengthen, 「強まる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
