年をとる
toshi o toru
In Japanese, "getting old" is expressed as 年をとる (toshi o toru).
The phrase 年をとる is a common and straightforward way to convey the idea of getting old in Japanese.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 年 (toshi) meaning "year/age" and とる (toru) meaning "to take".
Which one should you use?
年を重ねる can be used to emphasize the accumulation of years and carries a poetic tone suitable for formal situations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more elegant and positive way to describe aging, often used in literature or formal contexts to imply gaining experience or wisdom, use 年を重ねる. This more polite version translates to "to accumulate years".
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense form 年をとった can be used to describe someone who has already aged or reached a certain stage of life.
How do you pronounce it?
toshi o toru
Did you know?
- Turning 60 is not just 'getting old' but is called 還暦 (kanreki). This marks the completion of a full cycle of the Chinese zodiac and is treated as a rebirth.
- While 年をとる describes the general process of aging, the word for 'old' when referring to objects, 古い, is never used for people. Calling a person 古い would imply they are an antique or outdated rather than elderly.
- The term for someone older, 年上 (toshi-ue), uses the character 上 (ue), meaning 'above', reflecting how aging is tied to a vertical hierarchy of social status.
Examples in context
- 彼は年を取ってから健康に気を使うようになりました。He has started to take care of his health since he got older.
- 私の祖父母は年を取っても明るく元気です。My grandparents are bright and energetic even as they get older.
- 歳を重ねても心は若く保ちましょう。Let's keep our hearts young even as we age.
- 彼女は年を重ねるごとに美しさを増している。She grows more beautiful with every passing year.
- 最近、年取ってから運動不足になっちゃったよ。Recently, I've become lacking in exercise since I got older.
- あの人、結婚してから一気に年取ったって感じだよね。That person feels like they aged all at once after getting married.
- 年をとるのが怖いです。Toshi o toru no ga kowai desu.I am afraid of getting old.
- 年をとると、体力が落ちますね。Toshi o toru to, tairyoku ga ochimasu ne.As you get old, your physical strength decreases, doesn't it?
- 年をとることは自然なことです。Toshi o toru koto wa shizen na koto desu.Getting old is a natural thing.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their health while walking in a park.
- 陽葵 Himari最近、疲れやすくなった気がする。Saikin, tsukare yasuku natta ki ga suru.I feel like I've been getting tired easily lately.
- 蓮 Ren年をとるのも、避けられないね。Toshi o toru no mo, sakerarenai ne.Getting old is also unavoidable, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari蓮さんは、どう思う？Ren-san wa, dou omou?Ren, what do you think?
- 蓮 Ren健康に気をつけることが大事だよ。Kenkou ni ki o tsukeru koto ga daiji da yo.It's important to take care of your health.
