Translation and Meaning of: 老ける - fukeru

Etymology and Definition of 「老ける」

The Japanese word 「老ける」 (fukeru) is a verb that means "to age" or "to look older." The formation of this word is directly linked to the kanji 「老」, which represents the idea of aging or senility. This kanji is often associated with the image of an elderly person, reflecting wisdom and experience, but also the inevitable changes of time on appearance.

Origin and Contemporary Use

In the Japanese language, 「老ける」 is primarily used in contexts that describe visible changes in a person's appearance, often used to indicate that someone looks older than they really are. It's interesting to note that this word can be applied in both formal and informal situations, from everyday conversations to more literary descriptions, offering flexibility to the speaker in its use.

Variations and Contexts of Use

In contexts where one wants to avoid the connotation of appearance, terms like 「年を取る」 (toshi o toru) can be used, which also means "to age," but with a more neutral focus and less visual emphasis. In society, this coexistence of terms for aging reflects the way different nuances of aging are perceived culturally.

• "to act young" Pretend to be young.
• "to grow old" Aging, but with an emphasis on experience and time.
• "to rejuvenate" Rejuvenate, look younger.

Although 「老ける」 may carry a slightly negative connotation in certain contexts, especially when talking about appearance, culturally, Japan values advancing age due to the respect associated with experience and wisdom accumulated over time. This is reflected in the various Japanese words related to the act of aging and the importance given to the context in which they are used.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 老ける

• 老けました - past
• 老けます - Gift
• 老けています - Present Continuous
• 老けたら - conditional
• 老けた - simple past

Synonyms and similar words

• 老化する (ろうかする, rouka suru) - Aging, aging process, generally used in a broader context.
• 年を取る (としをとる, toshi o toru) - Getting older, emphasizing the passage of time in relation to age.
• 古くなる (ふるくなる, furukunaru) - Aging, but more commonly used in relation to objects and things that become old or obsolete.

老ける

Romaji: fukeru
Kana: ふける
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: to age

Meaning in English: to age

Definition: Aging. to age.