1.
decline; deterioration; decay
A gradual weakening, decreasing, or deterioration in power, prosperity, importance, or vitality. Used for civilizations, industries, health, and other things that were once stronger or more prosperous.
ローマ帝国は徐々に衰退した。
The Roman Empire gradually declined.
地方都市の衰退が問題になっている。
The decline of regional cities has become an issue.
その産業は衰退の一途を辿っている。
That industry is on a steady path of decline.
KANJI BREAKDOWN:
- 衰 - decline, weaken
- 退 - retreat, withdraw
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 衰退する - to decline
- 衰退の一途を辿る - to be on a steady decline
- 衰退が進む - decline progresses
- 衰退に歯止めをかける - to halt the decline
CONTRASTING TERMS:
- 繁栄 - prosperity (opposite)
- 発展 - development
- 躍進 - rapid advance
- 成長 - growth
RELATED VOCABULARY:
- 衰える - to decline, weaken (verb)
- 退化 - degeneration
- 没落 - downfall, ruin
- 凋落 - decline, fall (literary)
USAGE CONTEXTS:
- 文明の衰退 - decline of civilization
- 産業の衰退 - industrial decline
- 体力の衰退 - physical decline
- 人口減少による地域の衰退 - regional decline due to population decrease
REGISTER:
Neutral to formal. Common in news, history, and academic discussion.
Related Words
Antonym:
繁栄 (prosperity)