老いる|おいるoiru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto age; to grow old
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 老いる（おいる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 老います（おいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 老いない（おいない） |
| polite (masen) | 老いません（おいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 老いず・老いぬ（おいず・おいぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 老いた（おいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 老いました（おいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 老いなかった（おいなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 老いませんでした（おいませんでした） |
| Te form | 老いて（おいて） |
| Potential | 老いられる（おいられる） |
| Passive | 老いられる（おいられる） |
| Causative | 老いさせる（おいさせる） |
| Causative passive | 老いさせられる（おいさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 老いれば（おいれば） |
| tara | 老いたら（おいたら） |
| Volitional | 老いよう（おいよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 老いましょう（おいましょう） |
| Imperative | 老いろ（おいろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym年老いるとしおいるWrittenWritten word for growing old, often with an emotional, wistful tone, as in 「年老いた母」.
- Synonym年寄るとしよるNeutralMeans to have grown old but is used far less; in everyday speech 「年を取る」 is the normal choice.
- Synonym老化ろうかWrittenNoun for the decline of bodily functions with age; medical or technical flavor, also said of materials. 「老いる」 is a verb for a person growing old.
- Synonym加齢かれいWrittenNoun for the increase in age itself and the bodily decline that follows; common in medical and beauty contexts, unlike the verb 「老いる」.
- Synonym老けるふけるNeutralFocuses on looking old, with age showing in the face or build; 「老いる」 is more written and covers decline of mind and body, not just looks.
- Synonym年取るとしとるNeutralEveryday, mostly spoken word for simply getting on in years; 「老いる」 is more written and stresses entering old age with body and mind in decline.
- Synonym老け込むふけこむNeutralSuggests looking older than one's actual age, stressing outward appearance and flagging spirit; 「老いる」 describes the aging process itself.
- Antonym若返るわかがえるNeutralAntonym: to regain one's youth or feel young again; the direct opposite of 「老いる」.
- Antonym若々しいわかわかしいNeutralAntonym adjective: youthful and full of vitality, as in 「若々しい声」; the opposite pole from growing old.
For written or formal prose on growing old and declining, use 「老いる」, as in 「老いてなお盛ん」. In everyday speech say 「年を取る」 for getting older, 「老ける」 for looking old, and 「老化」 for failing bodily functions; 「若返る」 means to grow young again.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
