synonym Comparative
老人
VS
ぴんぴん
Differences Between "老人" and "ぴんぴん"
Option A
老人
Meaning
elderly person; senior citizen
Reading
ろうじん (rōjin)
Syllabus Level
N3
Practical Example
その老人はいつも公園のベンチで本を読んでいます。
That elderly person is always reading a book on a park bench.
Option B
ぴんぴん
Meaning
hale and hearty, spry, full of life (especially of elderly people)
Reading
ぴんぴん (pinpin)
Syllabus Level
N2
Practical Example
おばあちゃんは90歳だけど、毎日ぴんぴんしている。
My grandmother is 90 years old, but she's hale and hearty every day.
Which one to use?
Select the correct Japanese word for this context
Which word fits this context: "(elderly person; senior citizen)"?
🎉 正解 / Correct!
使い分け解説:
- 老人: Refers to a person who is old. While a polite term, it can sometimes be perceived as slightly formal. 高齢者 (kōreisha) is another common term, especially in formal contexts, and is often preferred in official documents.
- ぴんぴん: An onomatopoeia used to describe someone, often an elderly person, who is very healthy, energetic, and full of vitality despite their age.
- 老人: Refers to a person who is old. While a polite term, it can sometimes be perceived as slightly formal. 高齢者 (kōreisha) is another common term, especially in formal contexts, and is often preferred in official documents.
- ぴんぴん: An onomatopoeia used to describe someone, often an elderly person, who is very healthy, energetic, and full of vitality despite their age.
Want to boost your Japanese vocabulary?
Project Eagle automatically tracks and targets your weak words using AI. Practice thousands of operational exams completely for free!