decline

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading of 衰 is すい, and its kun reading is おとろえる. It has 10 strokes and relates to decline or weakening.
• Basic usage: 衰える is read おとろえる, and 衰退 is read すいたい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 衰える and 衰退
  • 衰える means decline or weaken.
  • 港の役割が変わり、町の造船業は次第に衰えた。 means “As the port's role changed, the town's shipbuilding industry gradually declined.”
  • 衰退 means decline or decay.
  • 人口の減少で商店街の衰退が進んだ。 means “The shopping district declined as a result of population loss.”