Age · 〜歳
Use 〜歳 for age in years. Watch for doubled consonants in 1, 8, and 10, and learn the special reading 二十歳 (はたち) for twenty years old.
- When to use it
- Saying how old someone is.
- How many?
- 何歳なんさい — how old?
Rows in yellow are irregular forms that do not follow the counter’s usual pattern.
- 1一歳いっさいThe small っ marks a doubled s sound
- 2二歳にさい
- 3三歳さんさい
- 4四歳よんさい
- 5五歳ごさい
- 6六歳ろくさい
- 7七歳ななさい
- 8八歳はっさい
- 9九歳きゅうさい
- 10十歳じっさいAlso じゅっさい
- 20二十歳はたちSpecial reading for twenty years old
- ?何歳なんさいDirect wording; often used with children
- ? (polite)おいくつおいくつA polite way to ask someone's age: おいくつですか
Notes
- 才 is often used as a simpler substitute for 歳 when writing ages, so you may see 5才 as well as 5歳. They have the same reading in this use; 才 is a separate kanji, not the official simplified form of 歳.
- おいくつですか is a polite way to ask someone's age. Whether it is appropriate to ask still depends on the situation.
Examples
- 私(わたし)は二十五歳(にじゅうごさい)です。 — I am 25 years old.
- 娘(むすめ)は二十歳(はたち)になりました。 — My daughter turned 20.