1.
to weaken; to decline
When physical strength, health, or abilities diminish.
年を取ると、体力が衰える。
As you get older, your physical strength declines.
祖父は視力が衰えてきた。
My grandfather's eyesight has been deteriorating.
記憶力が衰えてきたと感じる。
I feel that my memory has been declining.
2.
to wane; to fade
When power, influence, or prosperity decreases over time.
その国の勢力は次第に衰えていった。
That country's power gradually declined.
人気が衰えることなく、今も多くのファンがいる。
Without waning in popularity, there are still many fans today.
経済が衰えて、町から若い人がいなくなった。
The economy declined and young people left the town.
衰える is an intransitive verb (自動詞). There is no common transitive pair.
ASPECT ({ている}):
衰えている indicates an ongoing state of decline or weakness.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 体力が衰える - physical strength declines
- 視力/聴力が衰える - eyesight/hearing deteriorates
- 記憶力が衰える - memory weakens
- 勢いが衰える - momentum/force wanes
- 衰え知らず - showing no signs of decline
RELATED WORDS:
- 衰弱 - weakness, debility
- 衰退 - decline, decay