Meaning
老化 refers to the natural process of aging or deterioration over time. It can describe biological aging in living organisms, particularly humans, or the degradation of materials and objects. The word combines 老 (old) with 化 (transformation/change), literally meaning 'to become old' or 'transformation into old age.'
Usage
老化 is commonly used in both everyday and technical contexts. It frequently appears in discussions about health, skincare, materials science, and technology. When referring to human aging, it often focuses on physical or mental decline. In technical contexts, it describes the deterioration of equipment, materials, or infrastructure. It's a neutral, somewhat formal term.
Examples
- 01随着年龄增长，皮肤会自然老化。, .As we age, our skin naturally ages.
- 02这些老化的管道需要尽快更换。.These aging pipes need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Characters
Common collocations
- 皮肤老化skin aging
- 延缓老化to delay aging
- 设备老化equipment deterioration
- 人口老化population aging
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines the semantic element 老 (old/aged) with the suffix 化, which forms verbs indicating transformation or change into a state. This construction pattern is common in modern Chinese for describing processes.