Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'advanced age' depends on context: describing a person's old age, referring to elderly people, or discussing the state of being very old. Common words include 高齢 (こうれい) for formal/neutral use, 老齢 (ろうれい) for written/formal contexts, and 年寄り (としより) for casual reference to an elderly person. Be mindful of politeness when referring to someone's age.
Describing the state of being very old, often in formal or medical contexts.
Neutral, formal term for 'advanced age' or 'old age'. Commonly used in official contexts, healthcare, and statistics.
高齢のため、耳が遠くなった。
Due to advanced age, my hearing has declined.
高齢化社会が進んでいる。
The aging society is progressing.
More literary/formal term for 'old age'. Often used in written language or official documents.
老齢年金を受け取る。
Receive an old-age pension.
Refers to 'old age' as a stage of life. Somewhat literary or philosophical.
老年になっても元気だ。
Even in old age, he is healthy.
Referring to a person of advanced age, with varying levels of politeness.
Polite term for an elderly person. Use this in most situations when referring to someone respectfully.
お年寄りに席を譲る。
Give up your seat to an elderly person.
Casual term for an old person. Can be blunt or rude if used directly to someone, so use with care.
Can sound disrespectful if used to refer to someone directly. Use お年寄り for politeness.
Formal term for 'elderly person', often used in official, medical, or statistical contexts.
Direct term for 'old person', but can sound blunt or impersonal. Often used in compound words or formal reports.
May sound cold or disrespectful in casual conversation.
Describing someone as being of advanced age, often with nuance of frailty or respect.
Means 'aged' or 'elderly', often implying physical decline. Neutral to slightly literary.
年老いた犬の世話をする。
Take care of an aged dog.
Literary/poetic term for 'aged'. Often used in set phrases or emotional contexts.
老いた母を思う。
Think of one's aged mother.
Phrase meaning 'considerably advanced in age'. Used when emphasizing the degree of old age.
彼はかなりの高齢だが、まだ働いている。
He is quite advanced in age, but still working.
English 'advanced age' is often a formal phrase. In Japanese, the most natural equivalent depends on whether you're describing a person, a condition, or a demographic. Using 高齢 is safe for most formal contexts, but in casual speech, you might simply say 年を取っている (としをとっている, 'is old').
年寄り is casual and can be rude. お年寄り is the polite, everyday term. 老人 is formal/technical and may sound impersonal. When in doubt, use お年寄り for people.
お年寄りを大切にしましょう。
Let's take good care of the elderly.
彼女は高齢まで生きた。
She lived to an advanced age.
あの年寄りはいつも公園にいる。
That old person is always in the park.
高齢者向けの住宅。
Housing for the elderly.
Enter a nursing home.