1.
one's fifties; the fifties (age range 50-59)
The decade of life from age 50 to 59, or a person who is in that age range.
父は五十代になった。
My father entered his fifties.
五十代の男性が健康診断を受けた。
A man in his fifties had a health checkup.
五十代後半から体力の衰えを感じるようになったが、運動を続けている。
I started feeling a decline in stamina in my late fifties, but I keep exercising.
Composed of 五十 (fifty) + 代 (generation; age range). The suffix 代 attached to a round number creates an age decade. This pattern is productive: 二十代 (twenties), 三十代 (thirties), etc.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 五十代前半: early fifties
- 五十代後半: late fifties
- 五十代半ば: mid-fifties
- 五十代の女性: a woman in her fifties
- 五十代に入る: to enter one's fifties
PATTERN:
The 代 suffix works with all decade numbers:
- 二十代: twenties
- 三十代: thirties
- 四十代: forties
- 六十代: sixties