衰える|おとろえるotoroeru[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither; to waste away
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 衰える（おとろえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 衰えます（おとろえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 衰えない（おとろえない） |
| polite (masen) | 衰えません（おとろえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 衰えず・衰えぬ（おとろえず・おとろえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 衰えた（おとろえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 衰えました（おとろえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 衰えなかった（おとろえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 衰えませんでした（おとろえませんでした） |
| Te form | 衰えて（おとろえて） |
| Potential | 衰えられる（おとろえられる） |
| Passive | 衰えられる（おとろえられる） |
| Causative | 衰えさせる（おとろえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 衰えさせられる（おとろえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 衰えれば（おとろえれば） |
| tara | 衰えたら（おとろえたら） |
| Volitional | 衰えよう（おとろえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 衰えましょう（おとろえましょう） |
| Imperative | 衰えろ（おとろえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym弱まるよわまるNeutralUsed when wind, rain, momentum or intensity weakens, as in 「風が弱まる」; 「衰える」 centers on strength or power declining from its prime.
- Synonym弱るよわるNeutralCovers being physically frail and also being troubled or at a loss; 「衰える」 focuses on strength or power declining from its peak.
- Synonym減衰げんすいWrittenWritten/formal prose and a physics term: signals or vibrations fading away; 「衰える」 is about physical strength and power.
- Synonym萎えるなえるNeutralCovers strength or drive draining away and plants wilting, as in 「気力が萎える」; 「衰える」 stresses decline from a former peak.
- Synonym衰微すいびWrittenWritten/formal prose for the decline of a nation or family; 「衰える」 is more colloquial.
- Synonym衰耗すいもうWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: weakening and wearing away; in everyday speech say 「衰える」.
- Related衰退すいたいNeutralA Sino-Japanese noun for the decline of power or industries, as in 「産業の衰退」; also 「衰退する」. 「衰える」 is more colloquial.
- Related低下ていかNeutralFor ability or quality dropping, as in 「視力低下」; 「衰える」 pictures an overall decline from a peak.
- Related減退げんたいNeutralUsed for appetite or memory fading; 「衰える」 is about overall decline.
- Related凋落ちょうらくWrittenWritten/formal prose for prosperity fading into downfall; 「衰える」 is the broader, more general word.
- Antonym栄えるさかえるNeutralAntonym on the rise-and-fall axis: prospering and flourishing, the opposite of 「衰える」's decline.
- Antonym盛るさかるNeutralAntonym on the rise-and-fall axis: growing vigorous and thriving, the opposite of 「衰える」's decline.
- Antonym隆盛するWrittenWritten/formal-prose antonym on the rise-and-fall axis: prosperity and flourishing, opposite 「衰える」.
Use 「衰える」 for strength, power or popularity fading from a peak, as in 「体力が衰える」. Pick 「弱まる」 for wind or momentum easing, 「弱る」 for frailty or being at a loss, 「低下」 for falling ability, 「萎える」 for lost drive, 「減退」 for appetite or memory, 「衰退」 for industries. 減衰, 衰微, 衰耗 and 凋落 are written/formal prose; the opposites are 「栄える」, 「盛る」 and 「隆盛する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- 力などが弱くなる。
Kanji in this word
See also
