衰: the kanji for decline; weaken
衰 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means decline; weaken. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
衰 is written in 10 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
衰 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
スイ (sui)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 衰退すいたい · suitai | decline |
| 老衰ろうすい · rōsui | old age; senility |
| 盛衰せいすい · seisui | rise and fall |
おとろえる (otoroeru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 衰えるおとろえる · otoroeru | to decline; to weaken |
| 衰えおとろえ · otoroe | decline |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 年を取ると体力が衰える。Toshi o toru to tairyoku ga otoroeru.Physical strength declines with age.
- 商店街が衰退している。Shōtengai ga suitai shite iru.The shopping street is declining.
- 祖父は老衰で亡くなった。Sofu wa rōsui de nakunatta.My grandfather died of old age.
- 台風の勢いが衰えてきた。Taifū no ikioi ga otoroete kita.The typhoon has been weakening.
- 国の盛衰を歴史から学ぶ。Kuni no seisui o rekishi kara manabu.We learn about the rise and fall of nations from history.
Questions about 衰
How many strokes does 衰 have?
衰 is written in 10 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 衰?
The on readings are sui (スイ). The kun readings are otoroeru (おとろえる).
What JLPT level is 衰?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Movement and actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 衰
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.