1.
to grow old; to age
To become elderly or advanced in years. Often used for people and animals.
親も老いてきた。
My parents have also grown old.
老いても元気でいたい。
I want to stay healthy even when I grow old.
老いた犬が日向ぼっこをしている。
An old dog is sunbathing.
人は誰でも老いていく。
Everyone grows old.
祖母は老いてもなお、毎日散歩を続けている。
Even in her old age, my grandmother continues her daily walks.
2.
to become worn; to decline
Figuratively, when something loses its vitality or freshness.
木が老いている。
The tree has aged.
建物が老いて、あちこちに傷みが見える。
The building has aged, and damage can be seen here and there.
老いた町に新しい風を吹き込みたい。
I want to breathe new life into this aging town.
この会社は組織が老いてきている。
This company's organization is becoming worn and outdated.
文化が老いて、新しいものが生まれなくなった。
The culture has grown stale and stopped producing anything new.
老いる is an intransitive verb (自動詞). It is classified as an ichidan verb but has some irregular features from classical Japanese. There is no transitive pair.
ASPECT ({ている}):
老いている indicates an ongoing or resulting state of being old.
CONJUGATION:
- 老いる (dictionary form)
- 老いて (te-form)
- 老いた (past)
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 老いてもなお - even in old age
- 老いた親 - aged parents
- 年を取って老いる - to grow old with age
LITERARY NOTE:
This verb has a somewhat literary or formal feel. In everyday speech, 年を取る is more commonly used to express aging.