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老
old · elderly · to age
N2On: ろうKun: おいる、ふける
Memory Aid
This kanji visually depicts an old person. The top part represents the hair and head, the middle part suggests a bent back leaning on a cane, and the bottom shows the legs of a person.
'Rō' — Think of the long 'O' sound in 'OLD', like the 'RO' in 'OLD PEOPLE'.
Vocabulary
老人ろうじんold person, senior citizen
老いるおいるto grow old
老舗しにせlong-established shop/business
老化ろうかaging, senility
敬老の日けいろうのひRespect for the Aged Day (a national holiday in Japan)
Example Sentences
老人ホームでは、お年寄りが穏やかに暮らしています。
In the elderly care home, senior citizens live peacefully.
年を取ると体力が老いるのが感じられる。
As you get older, you can feel your physical strength declining.
この店は創業百年の老舗だ。
This shop is a long-established business that was founded 100 years ago.
ストレスは老化を早める原因の一つだと言われている。
Stress is said to be one of the causes of accelerated aging.