衰退

• Reading: すいたい
• Romaji: suitai
• Kanji breakdown: 衰 (sui/otoroe) — to weaken, wane; 退 (tai/shizoku/no) — to retreat, recede
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.i.ta.i/

Meaning

Decline; decay; degeneration; waning. The gradual weakening or deterioration of a nation, industry, culture, or organisation.

Used as both a noun and する-verb (衰退する). Applicable to civilisations, industries, political parties, cultural practices, or physical health. Carries a stronger sense of irreversible or structural decline than 衰え (otorōe), which can imply temporary weakness. Often appears in academic and journalistic writing.

Examples

1. 製造業の衰退とともに地方都市の活力も失われていった。 As manufacturing declined, regional cities also lost their vitality.
2. 帝国の衰退は外敵の侵入よりも内部の腐敗が原因だった。 The decline of the empire was caused more by internal corruption than by foreign invasion.
3. 伝統工芸の衰退を食い止めようと後継者育成が急がれている。 Efforts to train successors are being urgently pursued to halt the decline of traditional crafts.

Usage Guide

Context: history, economics, society, culture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 衰 (to weaken, wane) and 退 (to retreat, recede). Both characters suggest movement away from strength or prominence. The compound has classical Chinese origins and has been used in Japanese since at least the Heian period.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal