1.
old age; later years; senescence
The stage of life corresponding to old age, typically beginning around age 65 in Japanese usage. Used in medical, welfare, psychological, and developmental contexts as one of the named life stages (幼年期, 少年期, 青年期, 壮年期, 老年期).
老年期に入る。
To enter old age.
老年期の健康管理が大切だ。
Managing one's health is important in old age.
老年期のうつ病は見逃されやすい病気の一つだ。
Depression in old age is one of the illnesses most easily overlooked.
Compound of 老年 ('old age') and 期 ('period; phase; stage'). Names the final stage in the standard progression of life phases used in Japanese medicine, psychology, and welfare policy.
USAGE:
- A technical or semi-formal term; in casual conversation about 'when you get old' speakers are more likely to say 年を取ってから or お年寄りの時期.
- Frequent in healthcare contexts: 老年期医学 ('geriatric medicine'), 老年期のうつ病 ('late-life depression'), 老年期認知症 ('late-onset dementia').
- Typically defined as age 65 and above, though boundaries vary by source.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 老年期に入る: to enter old age
- 老年期を迎える: to reach old age
- 老年期医学: geriatric medicine
- 老年期の健康: health in old age
- 老年期認知症: late-onset dementia
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 壮年期: prime of life (roughly 30s to 50s) — the preceding life stage.
- 高齢期: old age — near-synonym; 高齢 is often used in policy documents and statistics.
- 晩年: one's later years — more literary; emphasizes the last part of a particular person's life rather than a biological stage.
- 老後: life after retirement; one's years in old age — everyday word focused on the practical phase after working life.