老ける・化ける|ふけるfukeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
老ける老ける（ふける） is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners; it describes becoming or appearing older, especially through visible marks of age.
化ける化ける is a less common written form than 老ける（ふける）. It represents the same dictionary word, but learners should generally choose 老ける（ふける）.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto age; to grow old (esp. in appearance); to show marks of age
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 老ける（ふける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 老けます（ふけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 老けない（ふけない） |
| polite (masen) | 老けません（ふけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 老けず・老けぬ（ふけず・ふけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 老けた（ふけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 老けました（ふけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 老けなかった（ふけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 老けませんでした（ふけませんでした） |
| Te form | 老けて（ふけて） |
| Potential | 老けられる（ふけられる） |
| Passive | 老けられる（ふけられる） |
| Causative | 老けさせる（ふけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 老けさせられる（ふけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 老ければ（ふければ） |
| tara | 老けたら（ふけたら） |
| Volitional | 老けよう（ふけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 老けましょう（ふけましょう） |
| Imperative | 老けろ（ふけろ） |
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WrittenA written-style word for growing old, carrying a wistful, reflective tone, as in 「年老いた母」.
- Synonym老いるおいるWrittenWritten and formal, this means growing old with the focus on the stage of life, as in 「老いてますます盛ん」.
- Synonym年寄るとしよるNeutralMeans to grow old but is used less often; in everyday speech 「年を取る」 is the usual word.
- Synonym老化ろうかWrittenA noun for the body's functions declining with age, often in medical contexts; also used of materials deteriorating. Written/formal.
- Synonym加齢かれいWrittenA noun for aging itself — the growing of years and the decline that follows; common in medical and beauty writing, while 「老ける」 covers only looking old.
- Synonym年取るとしとるNeutralRefers simply to growing older in years, with the focus on age itself; 「老ける」 is about looking old in appearance.
- Synonym老け込むふけこむNeutralSuggests looking older than one's actual age, with a decline in spirit and vigor — a more pronounced effect than 「老ける」.
- Related古びるふるびるNeutralFor things, not people: growing old and worn; also said of expressions or ideas becoming dated, as in 「古びた考え方」.
- Related大人びるおとなびるNeutralUsed of a child seeming grown-up, in appearance or in speech and behavior; not about actual aging.
- Related高齢化こうれいかWrittenA noun for the rising share of elderly members — used of populations and society, also of industries and companies. Written style.
Use 「老ける」 for looking old in appearance, as in 「年より老けて見える」. For simply getting older in years say 「年を取る」; in formal prose 「老いる」. 「老け込む」 is looking markedly older than one's years, with fading vigor; 「老化」 is functional decline in bodies or materials; 「大人びる」 is a child seeming grown-up; 「古びる」 is for worn things and dated ideas.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
