Translation guide
Describes buildings, structures, or objects that are in a state of disrepair, often due to age or neglect. Japanese has several words that convey different nuances of dilapidation, from shabby and run-down to crumbling and decrepit.
Describe a building or place that looks old, poorly maintained, and in bad condition.
An onomatopoeic word meaning 'tattered' or 'worn-out'. Commonly used for buildings, clothes, or objects that are falling apart. Casual and descriptive.
あの家はボロボロだ。
That house is dilapidated.
ボロボロのアパートに住んでいる。
I live in a run-down apartment.
Literally 'desolate' or 'ruined'. Emphasizes neglect and abandonment, often for buildings or gardens.
荒れ果てた家が森の中にあった。
There was a dilapidated house in the forest.
A colloquial, slightly derogatory term for something old and falling apart, often used for vehicles or machinery.
おんぼろの車に乗っている。
He drives a dilapidated car.
Emphasize that the building is physically falling apart, with broken walls, collapsing roof, etc.
Means 'decayed' or 'rotted away'. Used for wooden structures or things that have deteriorated over a long time.
朽ち果てた小屋を見つけた。
I found a dilapidated hut.
Literally 'about to collapse'. Describes a building that is on the verge of falling down.
崩れかけた壁を修理しなければならない。
We have to repair the dilapidated wall.
A formal term meaning 'aged and deteriorated', often used in official contexts for infrastructure.
老朽化した橋が危険だ。
The dilapidated bridge is dangerous.
Focus on the unattractive, worn-out look of a place, often implying poverty or neglect.
Means 'shabby' or 'seedy'. Describes the poor appearance of buildings, clothes, or people.
みすぼらしい家並みが続いている。
There is a row of dilapidated houses.
Conveys a sense of faded glory or desolation, often for once-prosperous places now in decline.
うらぶれた商店街を歩いた。
I walked through a dilapidated shopping street.
ボロボロ is a general, colloquial term for anything worn-out, while 朽ち果てた specifically implies decay from age, often for wood or organic materials. Use ボロボロ for everyday descriptions; use 朽ち果てた for a more dramatic, literary effect.
The English word 'dilapidated' is often used in formal contexts, but direct translations like '老朽化した' can sound overly technical in casual Japanese. Choose words based on the nuance you want to convey.