老いる

• Reading: おいる
• Romaji: oiru
• Kanji breakdown: 老 (rō/o) — old, aged
• Pronunciation: /o.i.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To age; to grow old. A literary or reflective expression for the process of ageing.

A Group 2 (ichidan) intransitive verb expressing the process of growing old. More literary and reflective than 年を取る (the everyday expression). Often used in philosophical discussions, literature, and contemplations about life. The noun form 老い (old age) is also common. Carries a sense of inevitability and sometimes melancholy.

Examples

1. 人は誰でも老いていくものだ。 Everyone grows old in time.
2. 老いた父の背中を見て涙が出た。 Seeing my aged father's back brought tears to my eyes.
3. 体は老いても心は若くありたい。 Even as the body ages, I want to stay young at heart.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, literature, life reflection

Tone: contemplative

Origin & History

The kanji 老 depicts a person with long hair leaning on a cane, representing the physical transformation of ageing. One of the oldest kanji used to describe human life stages.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal