老後（ろうご、rougo）
- old age

The Japanese word 老後 (ろうご - rōgo) refers to the period of life after retirement, typically encompassing the later years of a person's life, often associated with old age. It's the time when one is no longer actively working and is focused on leisure, relaxation, and managing their accumulated wealth or savings. It also often involves considerations for healthcare, living arrangements, and end-of-life planning. The concept carries significant weight in Japanese society due to the aging population and the associated challenges. The meaning of 老後 encompasses the entirety of the later stages of life.

⚫︎老後の生活設計を立てる。 Translation: To make a life plan for one's retirement. ⚫︎老後資金を貯める。 Translation: To save money for one's retirement. ⚫︎老後は故郷で過ごしたい。 Translation: I want to spend my retirement in my hometown.

⚫︎老後 is used in formal and informal contexts. ⚫︎It's common in discussions about financial planning, healthcare, lifestyle choices, and societal issues related to aging. ⚫︎You can use it when talking about your own plans, discussing the future with family, or analyzing societal trends. ⚫︎It is generally used to describe the state of life after retirement, the period of time after a person has stopped working.

⚫︎The word is typically written in kanji: 老後. ⚫︎The reading is ろうご in hiragana. ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana (the suffix hiragana). ⚫︎It is generally not written in katakana.

⚫︎晩年 (ばんねん - bannen): Late years, final years. ⚫︎余生 (よせい - yosei): Remaining life. ⚫︎セカンドライフ (sekando raifu): Second life (loanword, often used in a more positive context of new opportunities after retirement).

⚫︎While there isn't a direct single antonym, words related to youth and working life can be considered opposites in concept. ⚫︎現役 (げんえき - gen'eki): Active service, working life. ⚫︎若年 (じゃくねん - jakunen): Youth, young age.

彼は老後の趣味を見つけようと、絵画教室に通い始めた。 ・Translation: He started attending a painting class to find a hobby for his retirement. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone taking steps to enjoy their 老後 by pursuing a hobby.

日本は少子高齢化が進み、老後の社会保障制度が課題となっている。 ・Translation: Japan's declining birthrate and aging population are posing challenges to the social security system for retirement. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights a societal issue related to the challenges posed by an aging population and the impact on 老後 planning.

⚫︎The word 老後 is formed from the kanji 老 (ろう - rō), meaning "old" or "aged," and 後 (ご - go), meaning "after" or "later." ⚫︎Therefore, 老後 literally translates to "after old age" or "the time after old age."