1.
to become deserted, to decline, to fall into disuse
For a place, area, or business to lose its former liveliness or prosperity and become quiet and empty. Often used for towns, shopping streets, and tourist areas that have lost visitors or residents.
商店街が寂れた。
The shopping street became deserted.
かつて賑わっていた温泉街が寂れてしまった。
The hot spring town that was once bustling has become deserted.
若者が都会に出て行き、地方の町はどんどん寂れていく。
Young people leave for the cities, and rural towns are gradually declining.
TRANSITIVITY:
Intransitive. No standard transitive counterpart.
CONJUGATION:
Ichidan verb (一段動詞).
- Negative: 寂れない
- Polite: 寂れます
- Te-form: 寂れて
- Past: 寂れた
- Participle (adjective-like): 寂れた (町 — deserted town)
USAGE:
The past participle 寂れた is frequently used as a modifier: 寂れた町 (a deserted town), 寂れた商店街 (a run-down shopping street). Closely associated with rural depopulation and the decline of local economies in Japan.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 寂れた町: a deserted/declining town
- 寂れた商店街: a run-down shopping street
- 寂れていく: to gradually decline
- 寂れた温泉: a once-popular hot spring that has declined