Translation guide
The period of life when a person is old and weak, often implying mental decline. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific terms for senility or old age, as well as descriptive phrases.
Referring to the state of mental decline in old age, often characterized by childish behavior or forgetfulness.
A common term for senility, dotage, or second childhood. Often used in the phrase もうろくする (to become senile).
祖父はもうろくして、私のことを忘れてしまった。
My grandfather has become senile and has forgotten who I am.
Kanji form of もうろく, more common in written or formal contexts.
耄碌した老人が道に迷っていた。
A senile old man was lost on the street.
A somewhat derogatory term for a dotard or senile old person. Can be used self-deprecatingly.
もう老いぼれだから、新しいことは覚えられないよ。
I'm just a dotard now, I can't learn new things.
Refers to senility or dementia, often used in the phrase ぼける (to become senile). Can be blunt.
祖母がぼけてしまって、家族の顔もわからなくなった。
My grandmother has gone senile and can no longer recognize her family's faces.
Describing the phase of life when one is old and frail, often with diminished mental faculties.
Literally 'period of senile decay', a formal term for the dotage stage of life.
彼は老衰期に入り、介護が必要になった。
He entered his dotage and now requires nursing care.
A straightforward phrase meaning 'the period of senility/dotage'.
もうろくの時期になっても、彼は穏やかだった。
Even in his dotage, he remained gentle.
An old-fashioned meaning of dotage as foolish infatuation, often in love. Rarely used in modern English.
Means doting or excessive love, but not specifically tied to old age. Used for any blind affection.
彼は孫を溺愛している。
He dotes on his grandchild.
There is no exact single Japanese word that covers all nuances of 'dotage'. Use もうろく for senility, or descriptive phrases like 老衰期 for the period of old age decline. Direct translation attempts may sound unnatural.
もうろく implies general senility and childishness, while ぼけ is more strongly associated with dementia and cognitive decline. ぼけ can be more direct and potentially offensive.