Japanese word

高齢者

Pronunciation

Romajikōreisha

Meaning

  • nounelderly person

Example

その高齢者は毎朝散歩します。so no kō rei sha wa mai asa san po shi ma su

That elderly person takes a walk every morning.

Illustration for 高齢者 (elderly person)

More examples

この地域では、高齢者の一人暮らしが増えています。ko no chi iki de wa kō rei sha no hito ri gu ra shi ga fu e te i ma su

In this area, the number of elderly people living alone is increasing.

Core concept

It refers to someone whose age places them among the older members of a population, without specifying their health or abilities.

Common phrases

  • 高齢者施設kō rei sha shi setsu

    facilities for elderly people

  • 高齢者福祉kō rei sha fuku shi

    elderly welfare

  • 高齢者介護kō rei sha kai go

    elderly care

  • 高齢者向けサービスkō rei sha mu ke sā bi su

    services for elderly people

  • 高齢者住宅kō rei sha jū taku

    housing for elderly people

Similar words

お年寄りotoshiyori: A respectful term for a person in the older age group, especially in everyday conversation.
老人rōjin: A direct term for a person considered old, used in social, institutional, and written contexts.
年寄りtoshiyori: An informal term for an older person that can carry a rough or dismissive tone.

Definition in Japanese

年齢を重ね、老年の世代に属する人。nen rei o kasa ne rō nen no se dai ni zoku su ru hito

Word origin

高齢者 (kōreisha) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 高 (kō, "high"), 齢 (rei, "age"), and 者 (sha, "person").

Usage tips

  • In statistics and social policy, 高齢者 (kōreisha) often functions as a broad age-based category rather than a description of one person's physical condition.

Opposites

Word lists with this word