凋落する

• Reading: ちょうらくする
• Romaji: chorakusuru
• Kanji breakdown: 凋 (chou) — to wither, to droop; 落 (raku/o) — to fall, to decline
• Pronunciation: /tɕoː.ɾa.kɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To decline; to wither; to fall into decay. Describes the gradual deterioration of power, prestige, or vitality.

A Group 3 (suru) verb of Sino-Japanese origin. 凋落 carries a literary, melancholy tone, evoking the image of a flower withering and falling. Used to describe the downfall of empires, careers, or cultural movements rather than physical deterioration. Appears frequently in historical and political writing.

Examples

1. かつて栄えた王朝も、やがて凋落する運命にあった。 Even the once-flourishing dynasty was destined to eventually fall into decline.
2. 彼の政治的影響力は汚職スキャンダルで急速に凋落した。 His political influence rapidly deteriorated due to a corruption scandal.
3. 産業の凋落が地方経済に深刻な打撃を与えた。 The decline of the industry dealt a severe blow to the regional economy.

Usage Guide

Context: history, politics, literary criticism

Tone: literary

Origin & History

From Chinese 凋落 (diāoluò). The character 凋 depicts a plant wilting, and 落 means to fall. Together they paint a vivid image of organic decay, later adopted into Japanese to describe institutional or social decline.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated