衰える
おとろえる
to decline, to weaken
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
体力が衰えた。
たいりょくがおとろえた。
My physical strength has declined.
記憶力が年々衰えていく。
きおくりょくがねんねんおとろえていく。
My memory weakens year by year.
台風の勢いは衰えていない。
たいふうのいきおいはおとろえていない。
The typhoon has not lost any of its force.
Common patterns
- 体力が衰える
- for stamina to decline
- 勢いが衰える
- for momentum to fade
- 衰えを見せない
- to show no sign of decline
Memory tip
Use it for something that was once strong and is losing force: a body, eyesight, a storm, an industry. The noun 衰え appears in 衰えを知らない, 'showing no sign of decline'.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
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What does 衰える mean?