年 寄(としよ)り

としより

noun

elderly person

1. elderly person, old person

An older person, typically referring to someone in their senior years. Can sometimes sound slightly informal or even mildly impolite depending on context.

年寄(としよ)りには席(せき)を譲(ゆず)りましょう。

Let's give up our seats for elderly people.

祖父(そふ)は年寄(としよ)りでも元気(げんき)だ。

My grandfather is still energetic despite being elderly.

年寄(としよ)り扱(あつか)いしないでください。

Please don't treat me like an old person.

お年寄(としよ)りに優(やさ)しい町(まち)づくりが求(もと)められている。

Creating towns that are friendly to the elderly is called for.

年寄(としよ)りの知恵(ちえ)は大切(たいせつ)にすべきだ。

The wisdom of the elderly should be valued.

USAGE: 年寄(としよ)り is a common word but can sound somewhat informal or even mildly disrespectful in certain contexts. More polite alternatives exist.

POLITER ALTERNATIVES:

お年寄(としよ)り (more polite, with お)
高齢者(こうれいしゃ) (senior citizen - formal/official)
老人(ろうじん) (old person - neutral but clinical)
ご年配(ねんぱい)の方(かた) (elderly person - very polite)
シニア (senior - loanword)

COMMON PATTERNS:

お年寄(としよ)り (elderly people - polite)
年寄(としよ)り臭(くさ)い (old-fashioned, like an old person)
年寄(としよ)りの冷(ひ)や水(みず) (an old person acting young - idiom)

NOTE: Be careful with usage. 高齢者(こうれいしゃ) is preferred in formal or official contexts. お年寄(としよ)り is acceptable in daily conversation.

Related Words

Related: 高齢者(こうれいしゃ) (senior citizen (formal))

Antonym: 若(わか)い (young)

Antonym: 若者(わかもの) (young person)

core

Added 2026.1.12 18:45 · Revised 2026.5.26 4:11

03000/03460_toshiyori