老人

• Reading: ろうじん
• Romaji: roujin
• Kanji breakdown: 老 (rou) — old, aged; 人 (jin) — person
• Pronunciation: /ɾoː.d͡ʑi.n/

Meaning

Elderly person; old person; senior citizen.

A noun referring to aged individuals. While still common in formal and written contexts (老人ホーム, nursing home; 老人医療, geriatric care), the word can feel blunt in conversation. More polite alternatives include お年寄り (otoshiyori) and 高齢者 (koureisha).

Examples

1. 公園で老人がゲートボールを楽しんでいた。 An elderly person was enjoying gateball in the park.
2. 老人ホームでボランティアをしている。 I volunteer at a nursing home.
3. バスの中で老人に席を譲った。 I gave up my seat to an elderly person on the bus.

Usage Guide

Context: society, healthcare, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 老 (old, aged) and 人 (person). A direct Sino-Japanese compound that has been used since classical times to refer to elderly people.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal