verb / adjective HSK 5
shuāi lǎo
to age · to grow old · aging · senescence

Meaning

衰老 describes the natural biological process of becoming older and experiencing physical decline. It refers to the deterioration of bodily functions and appearance that occurs over time. This term is commonly used in medical, scientific, and everyday contexts when discussing the aging process.

Usage

衰老 is a neutral, formal term often used in medical or scientific discussions about aging. In everyday conversation, it can describe both human aging and the deterioration of objects. It's more formal than simply saying 老 (old) and emphasizes the process rather than just the state of being old.

Examples

  1. 01
    科学家正在研究如何延缓人体衰老的过程。
    Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū rúhé yán huǎn réntǐ shuāi lǎo de guòchéng.
    Scientists are researching how to slow down the process of human aging.
  2. 02
    随着年龄增长,皮肤会逐渐衰老
    Suízhe niánlíng zēngzhǎng, pífū huì zhújiàn shuāi lǎo.
    As age increases, the skin gradually ages.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 衰老过程
    shuāi lǎo guò chéng
    aging process
  • 延缓衰老
    yán huǎn shuāi lǎo
    to delay aging
  • 衰老
    kàng shuāi lǎo
    anti-aging
  • 身体衰老
    shēn shuāi lǎo
    physical aging

Antonyms

Origin

The word combines 衰 (decline, weaken) with 老 (old), literally meaning 'decline into old age,' directly expressing the concept of aging as a process of physical decline.

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