壮年(そうねん)期(き)

そうねんき
noun
middle age; prime of life
1. middle age; prime of life
The period of life roughly from the late thirties to the mid-fifties, considered a person's most productive and vigorous adult years. In Japanese usage this often emphasizes capability and maturity rather than decline.
彼(かれ)は壮年(そうねん)期(き)を迎(むか)えた。
He entered middle age.
壮年(そうねん)期(き)は体力(たいりょく)と経験(けいけん)のバランスが良(よ)い時期(じき)だ。
Middle age is a period when physical strength and experience are well balanced.
壮年(そうねん)期(き)の男性(だんせい)は仕事(しごと)でも家庭(かてい)でも中心的(ちゅうしんてき)な役割(やくわり)を担(にな)うことが多(おお)い。
Men in their prime often play a central role both at work and in the family.

Refers to the stage of life between youth (青年期(せいねんき)) and old age (老年期(ろうねんき)), typically spanning the late thirties through the fifties. The term carries a positive nuance of being at the peak of one's powers, unlike English "middle age" which can imply decline.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 壮年(そうねん)期(き)を迎(むか)える: to enter middle age
  • 壮年(そうねん)期(き)の男性(だんせい): middle-aged man
  • 壮年(そうねん)期(き)の女性(じょせい): middle-aged woman
  • 壮年(そうねん)期(き)に達(たっ)する: to reach one's prime

LIFE STAGE SEQUENCE:

  • 幼年期(ようねんき): early childhood
  • 少年期(しょうねんき): boyhood/girlhood
  • 青年期(せいねんき): youth
  • 壮年期(そうねんき): prime of life / middle age
  • 中年期(ちゅうねんき): middle age (more neutral)
  • 老年期(ろうねんき): old age

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 中年(ちゅうねん): middle age — more neutral and sometimes negative; 壮年期(そうねんき) emphasizes vigor
  • 働(はたら)き盛(ざか)り: prime working years — focuses specifically on career productivity
general
Added 2026.5.2 0:32
26000/26410_sounenki