Nuances of 老いる and 老ける


I return with another nuance question!

Today, I learned the kanji 老. Two of the example words were [老]{お}いる and
[老]{ふ}ける, which my book defined both as, "to grow old". I searched around for
the differences between them with mixed results. I did find an answer on here
that indicated that 老ける implies becoming an old man, but beyond that, what
exactly are the differences between the two words?




"老いる" means "get old," in terms of age as well as physical and mental
conditions.

老いること isn't a desirable matter. But you cannot evade it. It's a rule of
nature. Sometimes you can get wiser as you progress in age.

In that sense, "老いる," sui generis doesn't have so much negative tone as our
Minister of Finance, Taro Aso thinks - He said recently in his public speech,
"I don't understand why people over 90 of age wish to live longer," meaning,
"they are done."

"老ける" means you "look old, or older than your age," possibly because of a
longtime disease, self-indulgent lifestyle, or hard life. It has a negative
tone.

When you hear "彼も老けたね - He looks aged” from someone, you'd sympathize with the
guy he mentioned. But when you're told "君も老けたね - you look aged” in your face,
you'll get shocked, and kick the ass of the speaker in return.

You cannot stop 老い, but you can fend off ”老け" by getting proper exercise, and
staying young at heart.




老いる is a little bookish way to say "to age". The most common phrase now to say
growing old is 年を取る.

老ける isn't really "grow old", but describing people become "older" than they
really are, that is, they've got weary, out of blood, or lost youthfulness,
often suggesting that they had a hard time. In its participle-like forms 老けている
or 老けた it means "look old".

