き
麒
りん
麟
　
も
お
老
　
い
　
ぬ
　
れ
　
ば
ど
駑
ば
馬
　
に
おと
劣
　
る

expression, Godan verb

Proverb.
  1. even an outstanding person becomes inferior when getting old.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
き
麒
りん
麟
　
も
お
老
　
い
　
ぬ
　
れ
　
ば
ど
駑
ば
馬
　
に
おと
劣
　
る
 麒麟も老いぬれば駑馬に劣る きりんもおいぬればどばにおとる
き
騏
りん
驎
　
も
お
老
　
い
　
ぬ
　
れ
　
ば
ど
駑
ば
馬
　
に
おと
劣
　
る
 騏驎も老いぬれば駑馬に劣る きりんもおいぬればどばにおとる

Contained Kanji Breakdown

Chinese unicorn, genius, giraffe
キ (Kentei Pre-1)
deer
か　しか　ロク (11th, N1)
dotted cliff radical (no. 53)
ゲン (Kentei 1)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン　かりがね (Kentei 1)
ko
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
compare, race, ratio
ヒ　くら.べる　い (5th, N2)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
that
キ　ゴ　それ (Kentei Pre-1)
sweet, coax, pamper
あま.い　カン　うま.い (7th, N2)
twenty
にじゅう　ジュウ　ニュウ (Kentei Pre-1)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
Chinese unicorn, genius, giraffe
リン (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
deer
か　しか　ロク (11th, N1)
dotted cliff radical (no. 53)
ゲン (Kentei 1)
wild goose, trailing cliff radical (no. 27)
カン　かりがね (Kentei 1)
ko
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
compare, race, ratio
ヒ　くら.べる　い (5th, N2)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
phosphorus
リン
rice, USA, metre
ベイ　こめ　マイ (2nd, N3)
to divide
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
dancing radical (no. 136)
ブ　セン　まい (Kentei Pre-1)
evening
ゆう　セキ　ゆ (1st, N4)
sit or stand astride(跨) variant
old man, old age, grow old
ロウ　お.いる　ふ.ける (4th, N3)
variant of radical 125
soil, earth, ground
ド　つち　は (1st, N5)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
slow horse, foolish fellow
ド　にぶ.い (Kentei 1)
guy, slave, manservant
やつ　ド　やっこ (7th, N1)
woman, female
ジョ　おんな　め (1st, N5)
or again, furthermore, on the other hand
また　ユウ　やす (8th, N1)
horse
ま　バ　うま (2nd, N3)
three
サン　み　みっ.つ (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
horse
ま　バ　うま (2nd, N3)
three
サン　み　みっ.つ (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ　いっ　ひと- (1st, N5)
number one, line, rod radical (no. 2)
コン　シ　ジョ
fire, fire radical (no. 86)
ヒョウ　カ
inferiority, be inferior to, be worse
レツ　おと.る (7th, N1)
few, little
すこ.し　ショウ　すく.ない (2nd, N4)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
power, strength, strong
リョク　ちから　リキ (1st, N4)