老化|ろうかrouka[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveageing; aging; senile deterioration
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 老化する(ろうかする) |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 老化します(ろうかします) |
| Negative (nai) | 老化しない(ろうかしない) |
| polite (masen) | 老化しません(ろうかしません) |
| classical zu / nu | 老化せず・老化せぬ(ろうかせず・ろうかせぬ) |
| Past (ta) | 老化した(ろうかした) |
| polite (mashita) | 老化しました(ろうかしました) |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 老化しなかった(ろうかしなかった) |
| polite (masen deshita) | 老化しませんでした(ろうかしませんでした) |
| Te form | 老化して(ろうかして) |
| Potential | 老化できる(ろうかできる) |
| Passive | 老化される(ろうかされる) |
| Causative | 老化させる(ろうかさせる) |
| Causative passive | 老化させられる(ろうかさせられる) |
| Conditional (ba) | 老化すれば(ろうかすれば) |
| tara | 老化したら(ろうかしたら) |
| Volitional | 老化しよう(ろうかしよう) |
| polite (mashou) | 老化しましょう(ろうかしましょう) |
| Imperative | 老化しろ(ろうかしろ) |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
- Synonym老けるふけるNeutralDescribes a person looking old, with the focus on appearance. 「老化」 can also describe the deterioration of materials and equipment; 「老ける」 cannot.
- Synonym老いるおいるWrittenA written, literary verb for growing old, as in 「老いた親」; it is used only for people and living things.
- Related年寄るとしよるNeutralMeans growing old and applies to people and animals (「年寄った犬」). In modern usage the noun 「年寄り」 is far more common; the verb form is rare.
- Related加齢かれいWrittenA formal term for the mere increase in age, common in medicine and cosmetics; it does not necessarily imply declining function, which 「老化」 emphasizes.
- Related年取るとしとるNeutralA colloquial way to say someone is getting on in years; it stresses the passing of age and is never used for the aging of objects or equipment.
- Related老け込むふけこむNeutralSuggests someone suddenly looking old and listless, with a negative nuance; it is used only of people.
- Antonym若返りわかがえりNeutralThe antonym of 「老化」: a return to youth, becoming young again.
Use 「老化」 for the decline of bodily functions and the aging of materials or equipment, as in 「肌の老化」「設備の老化」. For people looking old, say 「老ける」; for the mere passing of years, 「加齢」. The opposite is 「若返り」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


