When talking about age in Japanese, you will often hear the word 〜歳 (sai). This is a common counter used specifically for counting years of age. For example, to say 'one year old,' you would say 一歳 (issai), and for 'two years old,' you would say 二歳 (nisai). The number comes before 〜歳.
It's a straightforward way to express someone's age and is used for people and sometimes even for things when discussing how old they are in terms of years. While there are a few irregular pronunciations to be aware of (like はたち for 20 years old), generally, you just attach 歳 to the number.
When counting age in Japanese, you'll often encounter the counter 〜歳 (さい). This kanji character 歳 (さい) is attached to a number to indicate someone's age.
For example, if you want to say '20 years old', you would say 二十歳 (はたち), which is an irregular reading. For other ages, you generally attach 〜歳 (さい) to the number, like 一歳 (いっさい) for 'one year old' or 五歳 (ごさい) for 'five years old'.
It's an important counter to learn early on as it comes up frequently in daily conversation, especially when talking about people.
When counting age in Japanese, you use the counter ～歳 (sai). This suffix is attached to numbers to indicate how many years old someone is. For example, 20歳 (hatachi) means 20 years old, and this is a special reading you'll want to remember. For most other ages, you simply combine the number with ～歳, such as 5歳 (go-sai) for 5 years old. This counter is essential for talking about people's ages in everyday conversation.
When counting age in Japanese, the counter 〜歳 (~sai) is appended to the number. For most numbers, you simply attach 〜歳 (~sai) to the Japanese reading of the number. For example, 20 years old is 二十歳 (hatachi) or 二十歳 (nijussai).
There are some irregular pronunciations to be aware of. For 1 year old, it's 一歳 (issai). For 8 years old, it's 八歳 (hassai). And for 10 years old, it's 十歳 (jussai) or 十歳 (jissai).
To ask someone's age, you can use 何歳 (nansai) for most people, or if you want to be more polite, you can use おいくつ (oikutsu).
When counting age in Japanese, you'll generally attach the counter 歳 (sai) to the number. For example, 20歳 (hatachi) means 20 years old, and 25歳 (nijūgo-sai) means 25 years old. There are a few irregular readings to be aware of: 1歳 (issai), 8歳 (hassai), 10歳 (jussai or jisssai), and 20歳 (hatachi). While 20歳 can be read as nijussai, hatachi is much more common and also refers to the coming of age ceremony.
〜歳 in 30 Sekunden
- Use after a number to say 'years old'.
- It's a common age counter.
- Essential for discussing ages.
§ What does 「〜歳」 mean?
The Japanese word 「〜歳」 (さい - sai) is a counter used specifically for counting age. Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of saying "X years old." You attach it to a number to indicate someone's age. It's a very common and essential piece of vocabulary if you want to talk about how old someone is, or how old you are yourself. You'll hear and use this often in everyday conversations.
- Definition
- Counter for age.
§ When do people use 「〜歳」?
You use 「〜歳」 any time you need to state or ask about someone's age. This could be in a casual conversation, a formal setting, or even when filling out forms. It's straightforward: combine a number with 「〜歳」. For example, if you want to say "20 years old," you'd say 「二十歳」 (はたち - hatachi) or 「二十歳」 (にじゅっさい - nijussai). There are some irregular readings, especially for 20 years old, which we'll cover later. But for most numbers, it's pretty regular.
Here are some common situations where you'd use 「〜歳」:
- Introducing yourself or someone else and stating their age.
- Asking someone how old they are.
- Discussing the age of children, pets, or even inanimate objects if you're being playful (though less common for objects).
- When talking about age restrictions for things like drinking, voting, or driving.
It's important to remember that asking someone's age directly might be considered impolite in some situations, especially with strangers or superiors, similar to how it can be in English. However, with friends, family, or in appropriate contexts, it's perfectly fine.
Let's look at some examples to make this clearer:
彼女は25歳です。(Kanojo wa ni-jū-go-sai desu.)
Hint: She is 25 years old.
お子さんはおいくつ歳ですか？ (Okosan wa o-ikutsu sai desu ka?)
Hint: How old are your children? (More polite way to ask)
彼はまだ10歳です。(Kare wa mada jū-sai desu.)
Hint: He is still 10 years old.
Understanding 「〜歳」 is a fundamental step in being able to talk about people in Japanese. Just remember to practice counting in Japanese first, and then apply 「〜歳」 to those numbers. You'll get the hang of it quickly!
§ Understanding 〜歳 (sai)
The Japanese word 〜歳 (さい – sai) is a counter specifically used for indicating age. Think of it like saying "years old" in English. You attach it to a number to express someone's age. It's pretty straightforward, but there are a few pronunciation changes and special cases to be aware of.
- Japanese Word
- 〜歳 (さい – sai)
- Definition
- Counter for age.
§ Basic Usage
To use 〜歳, you simply put the number before it. For example, if you want to say "20 years old," you'd say 二十歳 (はたち – hatachi) or 二十歳 (にじゅっさい – nijussai). Notice the two readings for 20 years old. We'll cover more pronunciation changes later. Here are some basic examples:
- One year old: 一歳 (いっさい – issai)
- Two years old: 二歳 (にさい – nisai)
- Three years old: 三歳 (さんさい – sansai)
§ Asking Someone's Age
The most common way to ask someone's age is by using 何歳 (なんさい – nansai), which means "how old?"
おいくつですか？ / 何歳ですか？ (How old are you?)
The first option, おいくつですか (oikutsu desu ka), is a more polite way to ask, especially when addressing someone older or in a formal situation. The second, 何歳ですか (nansai desu ka), is more casual but still perfectly acceptable in many contexts.
§ Pronunciation Changes
Like many Japanese counters, 〜歳 has some irregular pronunciations that you need to memorize. Pay close attention to these:
一歳 (いっさい – issai): The 'tsu' (つ) changes to a small 'tsu' (っ) causing a glottal stop. This applies to numbers ending in 1, 8, and 10.
八歳 (はっさい – hassai): Similar to 一歳, the 'chi' (ち) changes to a small 'tsu' (っ).
十歳 (じゅっさい – jussai) or (じっさい – jissai): Again, a small 'tsu' is inserted.
二十歳 (はたち – hatachi): This is a special, traditional reading for 20 years old. It's very common and important to know. You can also say 二十歳 (にじゅっさい – nijussai), but はたち is more frequently used, especially when referring to someone becoming an adult.
Here’s a quick reference for common ages and their pronunciations:
- 1歳: いっさい (issai)
- 2歳: にさい (nisai)
- 3歳: さんさい (sansai)
- 4歳: よんさい (yonsai)
- 5歳: ごさい (gosai)
- 6歳: ろくさい (rokusai)
- 7歳: ななさい (nanasai)
- 8歳: はっさい (hassai)
- 9歳: きゅうさい (kyuusai)
- 10歳: じゅっさい (jussai) / じっさい (jissai)
- 20歳: はたち (hatachi) / にじゅっさい (nijussai)
§ Using 〜歳 in Sentences
You can use 〜歳 directly after a number to state someone's age. It acts like an adjective describing the person or can be used as a noun itself.
彼は五歳です。(He is five years old.)
彼女は今年、二十歳になります。(She will turn twenty this year.)
You can also combine it with particles like の (no) to describe something related to a certain age.
三歳の子どもがいます。(I have a three-year-old child.)
§ Cultural Note: Coming of Age
In Japan, turning 20 is a significant milestone, known as 成人式 (せいじんしき – seijinshiki), the Coming of Age Ceremony. This is when individuals are legally considered adults, able to drink, smoke, and vote. This is why the special reading はたち for 20 years old is so important and widely used.
§ Summary
Mastering 〜歳 is crucial for basic conversations in Japanese. Remember the core concept: number + 歳. Pay close attention to the pronunciation changes, especially for 1, 8, 10, and 20. Practice asking and stating ages, and you’ll be using it like a pro in no time!
§ What 「〜歳」 Means
- Japanese Word
- 〜歳
- Definition
- Counter for age.
「〜歳」 (さい / -sai) is the Japanese counter for age. You attach it to a number to say someone's age. It's a fundamental word you'll hear and use often in everyday conversations.
§ How to Use 「〜歳」
Using 「〜歳」 is pretty straightforward. You just put the number before it. For example, if you want to say '20 years old', you say 「二十歳」 (はたち / hatachi) or 「二十歳」 (にじゅっさい / nijussai). Note that '20 years old' is a special case. For most other ages, you combine the number with 「歳」.
§ Common Situations for 「〜歳」
You'll hear and use 「〜歳」 in many daily situations, from casual chats to more formal settings.
- Asking and Stating Age: This is the most obvious use.
おいくつですか？ - How old are you? (Polite)
私は25歳です。 - I am 25 years old.
- Talking About Others: When describing someone, their age often comes up.
彼女の弟は3歳です。 - Her younger brother is 3 years old.
- In Schools: Teachers, parents, and students often discuss age, especially with younger children or when talking about different school grades.
このクラスの生徒はみんな7歳です。 - All students in this class are 7 years old.
- At Work: While less common to explicitly state your age in a professional setting unless it's for HR, you might hear it when discussing demographics, or when someone is introduced in relation to their experience or generation.
彼は経験豊富な50歳のエンジニアです。 - He is an experienced 50-year-old engineer.
- In News and Media: News reports often mention the age of individuals involved in stories, or statistics related to age groups.
この事故で、10歳の少年が軽傷を負いました。 - A 10-year-old boy sustained minor injuries in this accident.
§ Don't Forget the Particle の (no)
When you're describing someone's age before a noun, you need to use the particle の (no) to link the age to the noun. This is a common point of confusion for beginners.
彼は二十歳の学生です。
Kare wa hatachi no gakusei desu. (He is a 20-year-old student.)
彼女は五歳の子供です。
Kanojo wa go-sai no kodomo desu. (She is a 5-year-old child.)
Without the の, it would sound unnatural or grammatically incorrect. Remember, の often indicates possession or describes a preceding noun, and age can be seen as a descriptive characteristic here.
§ The Irregularities of 1, 8, 10, and 20
While 〜歳 (sai) generally follows a predictable pattern, there are a few irregular pronunciations you absolutely need to memorize. Ignoring these will make your Japanese sound incorrect.
- 1 year old
- Instead of いちさい (ichi-sai), it's いっさい (issai). The small っ indicates a glottal stop, making it sound like a doubled 's' sound.
- 8 years old
- Instead of はちさい (hachi-sai), it's はっさい (hassai).
- 10 years old
- Instead of じゅうさい (jū-sai), it's じゅっさい (jussai) or じっさい (jissai). Both are common, but じゅっさい is more frequent in everyday speech.
- 20 years old
- This is the biggest one. It's not にじゅうさい (nijū-sai) but はたち (hatachi). This is a completely different word. It's crucial to get this right.
私の息子は一歳です。
Watashi no musuko wa issai desu. (My son is 1 year old.)
彼女はもうすぐはたちになります。
Kanojo wa mō sugu hatachi ni narimasu. (She will be 20 soon.)
§ Using おいくつ (o-ikutsu) for Politeness
When asking someone's age, especially an adult or someone you don't know well, using なんさい (nan-sai) can sound a bit direct, almost impolite. The polite way to ask is おいくつ (o-ikutsu).
A: 失礼ですが、おいくつですか。
A: Shitsurei desu ga, o-ikutsu desu ka? (Excuse me, but how old are you?)
B: 私は三十歳です。
B: Watashi wa san-jussai desu. (I am 30 years old.)
You can use なんさい with children or close friends, but when in doubt, default to おいくつ to show respect.
§ The Special Case of Half Birthdays or Age Ranges
While you might say "three and a half years old" in English, Japanese generally expresses age as a whole number. If you need to indicate a child is, for example, 3 years and 6 months old, you'd usually say ３歳半 (san-sai han), meaning "three and a half years old." However, this is mostly for children. For adults, it's almost always a whole number.
私の娘は二歳半です。
Watashi no musume wa ni-sai han desu. (My daughter is two and a half years old.)
Avoid trying to translate English fractional ages directly; stick to the standard Japanese way of expressing it, or simply round to the nearest whole number for adults.
Understanding how to talk about age in Japanese is crucial for basic conversations. The counter ~sai (~歳) is used to express someone's age. It directly attaches to numbers. While it seems straightforward, there are a few important points to remember, especially when it comes to pronunciation and specific ages.
§ Basic Usage of ~sai (~歳)
To state someone's age, you simply add ~sai (~歳) after the number. For example, if someone is 20 years old, you would say 二十歳 (hatachi) or 二十歳 (nijussai).
- Japanese Word
- 〜歳 (~sai)
- Meaning
- Counter for age
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ Key Pronunciation Changes
While most numbers simply attach to ~sai (~歳), there are a few important exceptions to watch out for:
- 一歳 (issai): 1 year old
- 八歳 (hassai): 8 years old
- 十歳 (jussai / jissai): 10 years old
- 二十歳 (hatachi): 20 years old (This is a special reading, though 二十歳 (nijussai) is also used, especially in formal contexts or when counting from 20 onwards like 二十一歳 (nijūissai)).
For other numbers, you generally combine the number with ~sai (~歳) directly. For example, 二歳 (nisai - 2 years old), 三歳 (sansai - 3 years old), 四歳 (yonsai - 4 years old), etc.
彼は25歳です。(Kare wa nijūgo-sai desu.)
He is 25 years old.
何歳ですか。(Nan-sai desu ka?)
How old are you?
§ Similar Words and When to Use ~sai (~歳)
There aren't many direct alternatives to ~sai (~歳) for simply stating age. It's the standard counter. However, understanding different ways to refer to age can be helpful:
- 二十歳 (hatachi): As mentioned, this is the special reading for 20 years old. It's particularly significant because 20 is the age of majority in Japan. You'll hear this often in conversations about legal drinking age, voting, etc.
- おいくつ (oikutsu): This is the polite way to ask "how old?" It implies respect and is suitable for most situations where you're asking an adult's age.
- 年 (toshi): This word means "year" or "age" in a general sense. You might hear phrases like 年を取る (toshi o toru - to get old) or 年齢 (nenrei - age, referring to the number itself). However, you wouldn't typically say 「私の年は25です」 to mean "I am 25 years old." For stating a specific age, ~sai (~歳) is always used.
- 若者 (wakamono) / 若い (wakai): These terms refer to young people or being young, but they don't specify an age.
- 高齢者 (kōreisha) / 老人 (rōjin): These refer to elderly people, again, without specifying an exact age.
When to use ~sai (~歳):
Always use ~sai (~歳) when you are stating someone's precise age or asking for it (though remember the polite alternative おいくつですか).
私の妹は7歳です。(Watashi no imōto wa nana-sai desu.)
My younger sister is 7 years old.
彼はまだ若いですが、もうすぐ20歳になります。(Kare wa mada wakai desu ga, mōsugu hatachi ni narimasu.)
He is still young, but he will be 20 years old soon.
In summary, ~sai (~歳) is your go-to word for expressing age numerically. Pay attention to the pronunciation changes for 1, 8, 10, and especially 20. When in doubt about politeness when asking someone's age, opt for おいくつですか. Otherwise, stick with the number + ~sai (~歳)!
How Formal Is It?
"恐れ入りますが、おいくつでいらっしゃいますか？ (Excuse me, but how old are you? [Very polite])"
"田中さんは今、何歳ですか？ (How old is Tanaka-san now?)"
"君、今何歳？ (How old are you? [Speaking to someone younger or a close friend])"
"〇〇ちゃん、いくつ？ (How old are you, [child's name]?)"
"何歳だよ、お前？ (How old are you, dude? [Rough/impolite])"
Aussprachehilfe
- Don't confuse this with the word 'さい' (sai) meaning 'year' when used as a standalone word. When combined with a number to indicate age, the reading is pronounced with a short 'i' sound.
Schwierigkeitsgrad
Kanji is common and relatively easy to recognize in context.
Stroke order is straightforward for this common Kanji.
Pronunciation changes with certain numbers, requiring memorization of irregular forms.
Need to recognize irregular pronunciations to understand ages correctly.
Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest
Voraussetzungen
Als Nächstes lernen
Fortgeschritten
Wichtige Grammatik
Use with numbers to indicate age. For example, '一歳' (issai) means one year old, and '二十歳' (hatachi) means twenty years old (a special reading).
彼女は二十歳です。(Kanojo wa hatachi desu.) - She is 20 years old.
When asking someone's age, you can use '何歳ですか' (nan sai desu ka?).
お子さんは何歳ですか。(Okosan wa nan sai desu ka?) - How old is your child?
For infants and very young children, '〜ヶ月' (kagetsu) can be used to indicate months old. For example, '三ヶ月' (sankagetsu) means three months old.
赤ちゃんは三ヶ月です。(Akachan wa sankagetsu desu.) - The baby is three months old.
The pronunciation of '〜歳' can change depending on the preceding number. For example, '一歳' is 'issai', '八歳' is 'hassai', and '十歳' is 'jussai' or 'jisssai'.
私の弟は八歳です。(Watashi no otouto wa hassai desu.) - My younger brother is eight years old.
The counter '〜歳' is usually placed directly after the number.
彼は七歳です。(Kare wa nanasai desu.) - He is seven years old.
Beispiele nach Niveau
私は五歳です。
I am 5 years old.
あなたは何歳ですか？
How old are you?
彼女は十歳です。
She is 10 years old.
僕の弟は八歳です。
My younger brother is 8 years old.
おばあさんは九十歳です。
Grandma is 90 years old.
この猫は一歳です。
This cat is 1 year old.
彼の娘は三歳です。
His daughter is 3 years old.
私は二十歳です。
I am 20 years old.
メアリーさんは５歳です。
Mary is 5 years old.
弟は３歳です。
My younger brother is 3 years old.
私は２０歳です。
I am 20 years old.
あなたは何歳ですか？
How old are you?
この犬は１歳です。
This dog is 1 year old.
私の娘は７歳です。
My daughter is 7 years old.
彼のお父さんは５０歳です。
His father is 50 years old.
その猫はまだ若くて、１歳半です。
That cat is still young, 1 and a half years old.
彼女は何歳ですか？
How old is she?
私は25歳です。
I am 25 years old.
私の弟は10歳です。
My younger brother is 10 years old.
あなたの娘さんはいくつですか？
How old is your daughter?
彼は30歳になったばかりです。
He just turned 30.
この会社は50歳以上の人を雇用しています。
This company employs people over 50 years old.
子供は6歳から小学校に入学します。
Children start elementary school from 6 years old.
彼は私より2歳年上です。
He is 2 years older than me.
彼女は何歳に見えますか？
How old does she look?
Here, 〜歳 is combined with the interrogative 何 (nan) to ask 'how old?'
私は来年で二十歳になります。
I will turn 20 next year.
二十歳 (hatachi) is a special reading for 20 years old, often used for coming-of-age.
彼の息子はもうすぐ五歳です。
His son will be five soon.
五歳 (go-sai) directly translates to 'five years old'.
この犬は何歳くらいですか？
About how old is this dog?
〜くらい (kurai) or 〜ぐらい (gurai) is used to indicate 'about' or 'approximately'.
祖父は九十歳を迎えました。
My grandfather celebrated his 90th birthday.
迎える (mukaeru) means 'to welcome' or 'to celebrate' an age/milestone.
彼女は私より三歳年上です。
She is three years older than me.
年上 (toshiue) means 'older'.
彼はまだ子供で、まだ十歳にもなっていません。
He is still a child and hasn't even reached ten years old yet.
〜にもならない (ni mo naranai) emphasizes 'not even reaching' a certain age.
定年退職は六十五歳です。
The retirement age is 65.
定年退職 (teinen taishoku) means 'retirement from a fixed-age system'.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
おいくつですか？ (oikutsu desu ka?)
How old are you? (polite)
何歳ですか？ (nansai desu ka?)
How old are you? (standard)
私は二十歳です。 (Watashi wa hatachi desu.)
I am twenty years old.
私の弟は三歳です。 (Watashi no otōto wa sansai desu.)
My younger brother is three years old.
来月で三十歳になります。 (Raigetsu de sanjussai ni narimasu.)
I will turn thirty next month.
彼女は私より二歳上です。 (Kanojo wa watashi yori nisai ue desu.)
She is two years older than me.
その赤ちゃんはまだ一歳です。 (Sono akachan wa mada issai desu.)
That baby is still one year old.
息子はもうすぐ五歳になります。 (Musuko wa mō sugu gosai ni narimasu.)
My son will be five years old soon.
あなたの猫は何歳ですか？ (Anata no neko wa nansai desu ka?)
How old is your cat?
彼は七歳の時に日本に来ました。 (Kare wa nanasai no toki ni Nihon ni kimashita.)
He came to Japan when he was seven years old.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
While 'いくつ' also means 'how old,' it can also mean 'how many' and is generally considered less formal than '何歳' when asking about age. It can be used for both people and objects, whereas '何歳' is primarily for people.
'年' (toshi) can mean 'year' or 'age' in a general sense, but it doesn't function as a counter like '〜歳'. For example, '年を取る' (toshi o toru) means 'to get older,' but you wouldn't say '五と歳' for 'five years old.'
'年齢' (nenrei) means 'age' as a noun (e.g., a person's age), but it's not a counter for expressing 'X years old'. You would use '〜歳' after the number to indicate 'X years old'.
Grammatikmuster
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
"おいくつですか？ (o ikutsu desu ka?)"
How old are you? (polite)
A: おいくつですか？ (o ikutsu desu ka?) B: 25歳です。 (Nijūgo-sai desu.)
formal"〜歳です (〜 sai desu)"
I am ~ years old.
私は20歳です。 (Watashi wa hatachi desu.)
neutral"何歳？ (nan sai?)"
How old? (informal)
ねえ、何歳？ (Nē, nansai?)
informal"年を取る (toshi o toru)"
To get older
年を取ると、時間が早く感じる。 (Toshi o toru to, jikan ga hayaku kanjiru.)
neutral"歳がばれる (toshi ga bareru)"
To have one's age revealed
その冗談で歳がばれた。 (Sono jōdan de toshi ga bareta.)
informal"歳をとる (toshi o toru)"
To age (less common than 'toshi o toru')
彼は歳をとったのに元気だ。 (Kare wa toshi o totta noni genki da.)
neutral"歳は関係ない (toshi wa kankei nai)"
Age doesn't matter.
愛に歳は関係ない。 (Ai ni toshi wa kankei nai.)
neutral"歳の差 (toshi no sa)"
Age difference
彼らは歳の差があるカップルだ。 (Karera wa toshi no sa ga aru kappuru da.)
neutral"〜歳児 (〜 sai ji)"
~ year old child
うちには5歳児がいる。 (Uchi ni wa go-saiji ga iru.)
neutral"成人式 (seijinshiki)"
Coming-of-age ceremony (for 20-year-olds)
来年、成人式がある。 (Rainen, seijinshiki ga aru.)
neutralLeicht verwechselbar
Many learners struggle with the irregular pronunciation of '何歳' (nansai) for 'how old,' as opposed to the more regular 'いくつ' (ikutsu), which also means 'how old.' Additionally, '何歳' is generally used for people, while 'いくつ' can be used for objects or people, adding to the confusion.
'何歳' (nansai) is typically used when asking about someone's age and is considered more polite than 'いくつ'. 'いくつ' is a general term for 'how many/how old' and can be used for things or people.
A: おいくつですか。(How old are you? - polite) B: 25歳です。(I am 25 years old.) A: お子さんは何歳ですか。(How old are your children?) B: 5歳です。(They are 5 years old.)
The concept of '数え年' (kazoedoshi) or 'traditional East Asian age reckoning' is often confusing for English speakers because it's different from the Western way of counting age. In '数え年,' a person is considered one year old at birth and gains a year at the start of each calendar year, not on their birthday.
'数え年' (kazoedoshi) refers to the traditional Japanese way of counting age where you are one year old at birth and gain a year on January 1st. '満年齢' (mannenrei) refers to the Western way of counting age, where you gain a year on your birthday.
A: 彼は数え年で何歳ですか。(How old is he by traditional age reckoning?) B: 数え年で2歳です。(He is 2 by traditional age reckoning.) 彼は満年齢で1歳です。(He is 1 year old by Western age reckoning.)
The kanji for 'sai' (才) is a simplified version of '歳' (歳). While both are used as a counter for age, '才' is often seen in more informal contexts or when writing by hand, leading to confusion about which kanji to use and when.
Both '歳' (sai) and '才' (sai) are used as counters for age. '歳' is the more formal and standard kanji. '才' is a simplified version, often used in informal writing or when brevity is desired. In modern Japanese, '歳' is generally preferred for formal writing.
A: 彼女は何歳ですか。(How old is she?) B: 彼女は20歳です。(She is 20 years old. - formal) 彼は20才です。(He is 20 years old. - informal, common in handwriting)
Learners often confuse '年' (nen), which means 'year' in the context of a specific year number (e.g., 2023年), with the counter for age '〜歳' (〜sai). While both relate to years, their usage is distinct.
'年' (nen) is used to refer to a specific year (e.g., 2023年 - the year 2023) or a duration of years (e.g., 3年間 - for 3 years). '〜歳' (〜sai) is exclusively used as a counter for a person's age.
A: 何年生まれですか。(What year were you born?) B: 1990年生まれです。(I was born in 1990.) A: 何年間日本に住んでいますか。(How many years have you lived in Japan?) B: 3年間住んでいます。(I have lived there for 3 years.)
'年代' (nendai) refers to a decade (e.g., the 80s, the 90s) and is sometimes mistakenly used when trying to express someone's age or a specific year. The context of a range of years versus a precise age or year causes confusion.
'年代' (nendai) refers to a decade or an era (e.g., 1980年代 - the 1980s). It is not used to indicate a person's individual age. '〜歳' (〜sai) is used for a person's age.
A: この歌はどの年代のヒット曲ですか。(In what decade was this song a hit?) B: 1990年代のヒット曲です。(It was a hit song in the 1990s.) 彼は20代です。(He is in his twenties.)
Satzmuster
XはY歳です。
彼女は20歳です。 (She is 20 years old.)
私はY歳です。
私は25歳です。 (I am 25 years old.)
あなたの年齢は何歳ですか？
あなたの年齢は何歳ですか？ (How old are you?)
子供は何歳ですか？
この子供は何歳ですか？ (How old is this child?)
〜歳になります。
来年、彼は30歳になります。(Next year, he will turn 30.)
〜歳に見えます。
彼女は20歳に見えますが、実際は25歳です。(She looks 20, but she's actually 25.)
〜歳から〜歳まで
このゲームは8歳から12歳まで遊べます。(This game can be played by ages 8 to 12.)
〜歳以上/以下
18歳以上の方のみ入場できます。(Only those 18 years old or older can enter.)
So verwendest du es
When talking about age in Japanese, you'll almost always use the counter 〜歳 (sai). You attach it directly to the number. For example, to say 'one year old', you'd say 一歳 (issai). To say 'twenty years old', it's 二十歳 (hatachi) or 二十歳 (nijuusai). Be aware that the pronunciation changes slightly for some numbers when combined with 〜歳, so it's good to practice those.
A common mistake for English speakers is trying to directly translate 'I am 25 years old' as something like '私は二十五歳です (Watashi wa nijuugosai desu).' While grammatically understandable, a more natural way to express this is simply 二十五歳です (Nijuugosai desu), as the subject 'I' is often omitted in Japanese when clear from context. Another mistake is forgetting the special reading for 20 years old, 二十歳 (hatachi), which is common for reaching adulthood.
Tipps
Basic use of 〜歳
To state someone's age, you attach 〜歳 (さい / sai) directly after the number. For example, ５歳 (ごさい / gosai) means '5 years old'.
Pronunciation changes for 〜歳
The pronunciation of 歳 can change depending on the preceding number. For instance, １歳 (いっさい / issai), ８歳 (はっさい / hassai), and １０歳 (じゅっさい / jussai or じっさい / jissai) have a small 'tsu' sound before 'sai'.
Asking someone's age
To ask someone's age, you can use 何歳ですか？ (なんさいですか？ / nansai desu ka?) which means 'How old are you?'
Formal way to ask age
For a more polite way to ask someone's age, especially to elders or strangers, use おいくつですか？ (oikutsu desu ka?). This is more formal than 何歳ですか？
Age for 20 years old
The age 20 has a special word: 二十歳 (はたち / hatachi). While 20歳 (にじゅっさい / nijussai) is also correct, はたち is very common and important to know.
Not used for objects
Remember that 〜歳 is strictly for counting the age of living beings, usually people. You wouldn't use it for the age of objects like a car or a building.
Using in sentences
You can use 〜歳 in sentences like this: 私の妹は７歳です。 (わたしのいもうとはななさいです。 / Watashi no imōto wa nanasai desu.) 'My younger sister is 7 years old.'
Specific age phrases
You might hear phrases like 〜歳未満 (〜さいみまん / ~sai miman) 'under ~ years old' or 〜歳以上 (〜さいいじょう / ~sai ijō) 'over ~ years old' in formal contexts like signs or rules.
Counting ages 1-10
Practice the ages from 1 to 10: １歳 (いっさい), ２歳 (にさい), ３歳 (さんさい), ４歳 (よんさい), ５歳 (ごさい), ６歳 (ろくさい), ７歳 (ななさい), ８歳 (はっさい), ９歳 (きゅうさい), １０歳 (じゅっさい/じっさい).
Coming of Age Day
In Japan, there is a national holiday called 成人の日 (せいじんのひ / Seijin no Hi) or 'Coming of Age Day' for those who have turned 20 years old (二十歳). It's an important milestone.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Imagine a child excitedly proclaiming their age. The 〜際 sound is a bit like 'sai,' and you can visualize a 'sigh' of relief that they're getting older! Combine this with the visual of a birthday cake with candles.
Visuelle Assoziation
Picture a calendar with a big circle around someone's birthday, and the number of years written next to it. The shape of the kanji 歳 (sai) can look a bit like a person standing next to a birthday cake, with the top part being the candles.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Ask a friend (or imagine asking someone) 'おいくつですか？' (o-ikutsu desu ka? - How old are you? - polite) or '何歳ですか？' (nan-sai desu ka? - How old are you?). Then, try to respond with your age using the 〜歳 counter, for example, '私は三十歳です' (watashi wa sanjūs-sai desu - I am 30 years old).
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIn Japanese, 〜歳 (sai) is the most common and versatile counter for age. You might also hear 〜才 (sai), which is an older, simplified version of the same character and is also used for age. For numbers like 20, you'll sometimes hear はたち (hatachi) instead of 二十歳 (nijussai). While these variations exist, 〜歳 is always a safe and correct choice.
To say 'I am 25 years old,' you would say 「私は二十五歳です。」 (Watashi wa nijuugosai desu.) You combine the number with 〜歳.
Yes, there are a few special pronunciations:
- 1歳 (issai): The 'ichi' becomes 'i'.
- 8歳 (hassai): The 'hachi' becomes 'ha'.
- 10歳 (jussai or jissai): Can be pronounced either way.
- 20歳 (hatachi or nijussai): はたち (hatachi) is a special reading for 20 years old, often used in formal situations or for coming of age. 二十歳 (nijussai) is also correct.
Generally, 〜歳 is used specifically for the age of people and sometimes animals. For inanimate objects like trees or buildings, you'd typically use different expressions like 「樹齢 (jurei)」 for tree rings or 「築 (chiku)」 for the age of a building.
Yes, when asking someone's age, especially an adult, politeness is key. A polite way to ask 'How old are you?' is 「おいくつですか？」 (Oikutsu desu ka?). While 「何歳ですか？」 (Nansai desu ka?) is grammatically correct, 「おいくつですか？」 is more respectful.
Here's how to count ages 1 to 10 with 〜歳:
- 1歳 (issai)
- 2歳 (nisai)
- 3歳 (sansai)
- 4歳 (yonsai)
- 5歳 (gosai)
- 6歳 (rokusai)
- 7歳 (nanasai)
- 8歳 (hassai)
- 9歳 (kyuusai)
- 10歳 (jussai/jissai)
Asking someone's age directly can sometimes be considered impolite in Japanese culture, especially for women or in formal settings, unless there's a specific reason or you have a close relationship. It's often better to wait for them to volunteer the information or find indirect ways if necessary.
The Japanese coming-of-age ceremony, called 成人の日 (Seijin no Hi), is celebrated on the second Monday of January for those who turned 20 (二十歳 - hatachi) between April 2nd of the previous year and April 1st of the current year. This is a significant milestone when a person is legally recognized as an adult.
Besides はたち (hatachi) for 20 years old, some other less common special age terms include 還暦 (kanreki) for 60 years old (the completion of a 60-year cycle), which signifies rebirth and often involves celebrations. However, these are less about counting and more about specific life milestones.
You would typically say 「彼は私より三歳年上です。」 (Kare wa watashi yori sansai toshiue desu.) Here, 〜歳 is used to specify the age difference, and 「年上 (toshiue)」 means 'older' or 'senior.'
Teste dich selbst 120 Fragen
Choose the correct way to ask "How old are you?"
何歳ですか？ (Nan sai desu ka?) is the standard way to ask 'How old are you?' in Japanese.
How would you say "I am 5 years old"?
歳 (sai) is the counter for age. So, 五歳です (Go-sai desu) means 'I am 5 years old.'
Which of these sentences correctly uses 〜歳 to state age?
二十歳 (hatachi) is a special reading for 20 years old. It means 'She is 20 years old.'
You can use 〜歳 after a number to indicate someone's age.
〜歳 (sai) is indeed the counter specifically used for counting years of age.
「何歳ですか？」(Nan sai desu ka?) means "What is your name?"
「何歳ですか？」(Nan sai desu ka?) means "How old are you?". "What is your name?" is 「お名前は何ですか？」(O-namae wa nan desu ka?).
For 'one year old', you say 「一歳」(ichi-sai).
Yes, 「一歳」(ichi-sai) is the correct way to say 'one year old'.
Listen to the age.
Listen for the number.
Listen to how old the younger brother is.
Read this aloud:
私は八歳です。
Focus: はっさい (hassa-i)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
あなたは何歳ですか。
Focus: なんさい (nan-sai)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
彼は九歳です。
Focus: きゅうさい (kyuu-sai)
Du hast gesagt:
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The correct order is '私 (I) は (topic particle) 五歳 (five years old) です (is).'
The correct order is '彼 (He) は (topic particle) 十歳 (ten years old) です (is).'
The correct order is '彼女 (She) は (topic particle) 八歳 (eight years old) です (is).'
Choose the correct way to ask "How old are you?"
何歳ですか？ (Nan sai desu ka?) literally means 'How many years old are you?'
How would you say "I am 20 years old"?
二十歳 (hatachi) is the special reading for 20 years old. です (desu) means 'is' or 'am'.
Which of these is the correct way to say "3 years old"?
歳 (sai) is the counter for age. When counting '1-10 years old', the pronunciation changes slightly, but for numbers like 3, it's generally 'number + sai'.
To say "1 year old", you use 一歳 (issai), not 一才 (issai).
The kanji for 'year old' is 歳 (sai), so 一歳 (issai) is correct. While 才 (sai) is sometimes used informally, 歳 (sai) is the standard and correct kanji.
The word for "how old" is いくつ (ikutsu).
いくつ (ikutsu) is a common and polite way to ask 'how old'. It's generally used when asking about younger children or in more casual situations, or when you don't know the exact age.
When asking someone's age, you can always use the phrase '何歳ですか？ (Nan sai desu ka?)' regardless of their age or status.
While 何歳ですか？ (Nan sai desu ka?) is grammatically correct, it can sometimes be considered less polite when asking an older person or someone of higher status. For those situations, it's more appropriate to use phrases like おいくつですか？ (Oikutsu desu ka?) or お年はいくつですか？ (Otosh wa ikutsu desu ka?).
彼女は今度の日曜日で20___になります。
「歳」は年齢を表す際に使われる助数詞です。他の選択肢は、年数、月数、日数を表します。
お兄さんはおいくつ___ですか？
「おいくつ」は年齢を尋ねる丁寧な表現です。「歳」と組み合わせて使います。
私の息子はもうすぐ7___になります。
「歳」は年齢を数える際に使用される正しい助数詞です。
彼は私より３___年上です。
誰かの年齢が何歳上かを伝える時には「歳」を使います。
来月で父は60___になります。
人の年齢を述べる際は「歳」を使います。
この猫は何___ですか？
ペットの年齢を尋ねるときも「歳」を使います。
Choose the correct way to ask "How old are you?" in Japanese.
While '何歳ですか' (nan-sai desu ka) is grammatically correct, 'おいくつですか' (o-ikutsu desu ka) is the more polite and commonly used phrase when asking someone's age.
How would you say 'My little brother is 10 years old'?
For age 10, '十歳' (jussai or jis-sai) is the correct written and spoken form. 'とおさい' is incorrect. While 10歳 is numerically correct, 十歳 is preferred in formal writing.
Which of these is the correct way to say 'I am 20 years old'?
For 20 years old, '二十歳' is read as 'hatachi' and is a special reading. While 'nijussai' is also possible, 'hatachi' is more common and respectful when referring to one's own age of 20.
When referring to a 1-year-old, '一歳' is typically read as 'issai'.
Yes, '一歳' (1 year old) is indeed read as 'issai'. The 'tsu' in 'ichi' changes to a small 'tsu' for phonetic reasons.
It is always appropriate to directly ask someone '何歳ですか？' (Nan-sai desu ka?) in any situation.
False. While grammatically correct, '何歳ですか' can be considered less polite, especially to strangers or those older than you. 'おいくつですか' (O-ikutsu desu ka) is the more polite and common way to ask someone's age.
The counter '〜歳' can only be used for people, not for animals or inanimate objects.
True. The counter '〜歳' (sai) is specifically used for counting the age of living beings, particularly people. For animals, other counters like '〜匹' (hiki) or '〜頭' (tō) might be used for counting the animals themselves, but '〜歳' is for their age.
Write a sentence asking someone their age politely.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
おいくつですか。
Write a sentence stating that your younger brother is 10 years old.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の弟は10歳です。
Write a sentence saying 'My mother is 50 years old this year.'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の母は今年50歳です。
田中さんの息子は何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
A: こんにちは、田中さん。お子さんはおいくつですか？ B: こんにちは、山田さん。息子は7歳で、娘は3歳です。 A: そうですか。かわいいですね！
田中さんの息子は何歳ですか？
会話の中で、田中さんは「息子は7歳です」と答えています。
会話の中で、田中さんは「息子は7歳です」と答えています。
この文で、祖母は何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
私の祖父は、来月で90歳になります。毎日、庭で花を育てています。祖母は88歳で、とても元気です。
この文で、祖母は何歳ですか？
文章に「祖母は88歳で」とあります。
文章に「祖母は88歳で」とあります。
鈴木さんは何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
鈴木さんは今年、結婚して2年目になります。奥さんは28歳で、鈴木さんより2歳年下です。
鈴木さんは何歳ですか？
奥さんが28歳で、鈴木さんより2歳年下なので、鈴木さんは28+2=30歳です。
奥さんが28歳で、鈴木さんより2歳年下なので、鈴木さんは28+2=30歳です。
This sentence means 'I am 20 years old.' The particles are in the correct order to form a natural Japanese sentence.
These are common ways to ask 'How old are you?' 'Oikutsu desu ka' is more polite.
This means 'My younger sister is nine years old.' The structure is Subject + は + Age + です.
彼女は今年で___になりますか？ (How old will she be this year?)
「何歳（なんさい）」は年齢を尋ねる丁寧な言い方です。
私の弟は来月で20___です。 (My younger brother will be 20 next month.)
「歳（さい）」は年齢を表す助数詞です。
___から日本語を学び始めましたか？ (How old were you when you started learning Japanese?)
「何歳の時」は、特定の年齢時点を尋ねる際に使います。
彼は私より___若いです。 (He is 5 years younger than me.)
年齢差を表す場合も「歳」を使います。
この猫はまだ___子猫です。 (This cat is still a young kitten.)
動物の年齢にも「歳」を使います。
彼の祖父は___で、とても元気です。 (His grandfather is 90 years old and very healthy.)
「90歳」で90年間の年齢を意味します。
Choose the correct way to ask "How old are you?" in a polite context.
「おいくつですか」is the most polite and common way to ask someone's age. 「何歳ですか」is also correct but less polite. The other options are grammatically incorrect or unnatural.
If someone is 20 years old, which is the most common and polite way to state their age?
While 「にじゅっさい」is technically correct, 「はたち」is the special reading for 20 years old and is almost always used, especially in formal or polite contexts.
Which of the following is the correct way to say 'I am 8 years old'?
The correct reading for 8 years old is 「はっさい」, and the kanji is 「歳」. 「才」is an alternative kanji for 'age' but less common in general usage.
It is generally acceptable to directly ask '何歳ですか' to someone much older than you in a formal setting.
Asking '何歳ですか' can be considered less polite. For someone much older or in a formal setting, 'おいくつですか' is much more appropriate.
When stating your own age, you should always use the polite form, even in casual conversations.
While politeness is valued, in casual conversations with friends or family, using the plain form (e.g., '二十歳') without 'です' or 'でございます' is common and natural.
The counter '〜歳' can be used for both people and animals.
Yes, '〜歳' is used to count the age of both people and animals.
You are at a social gathering in Japan. Introduce yourself and mention your age, using polite Japanese. You are 28 years old.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は28歳です。よろしくお願いします。
Your friend is asking about their younger sibling's age. Respond that their sibling is 15 years old.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
妹さんは15歳です。
You're writing a short message to a new acquaintance, asking about their age. Be polite.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
おいくつですか？
田中さんは今何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
田中さんは去年、30歳になりました。今年は31歳です。彼の誕生日は夏です。
田中さんは今何歳ですか？
文章に「今年は31歳です」と書かれています。
文章に「今年は31歳です」と書かれています。
筆者の娘は今何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
私の娘はまだ小さいです。彼女は来月、5歳になります。誕生日に新しいおもちゃをプレゼントする予定です。
筆者の娘は今何歳ですか？
「来月、5歳になります」とあるので、現在は4歳です。
「来月、5歳になります」とあるので、現在は4歳です。
日本で高校に入学する年齢は何歳からですか？
Read this passage:
日本の学校制度では、小学校は6歳から始まります。中学校は12歳から、高校は15歳からです。
日本で高校に入学する年齢は何歳からですか？
文章に「高校は15歳からです」と明記されています。
文章に「高校は15歳からです」と明記されています。
This sentence means 'I am 20 years old.' The particles and counter for age are in the correct order.
This question means 'How old is he?' The structure for asking age is correctly formed.
This sentence means 'She turned 25 last year.' The verb 'になりました' is used to indicate becoming a certain age.
彼女は今年で___になります。 (She will be 30 this year.)
「〜歳」は年齢を表す際に使われる助数詞です。通常は漢字で「歳」と書かれます。「三十歳」は「さんじゅうさい」と読みます。
来年、私の祖父は___を迎えます。(Next year, my grandfather will turn 88.)
「八十八歳」は「はちじゅうはっさい」と読み、88歳を意味します。長寿のお祝いとして「米寿（べいじゅ）」とも呼ばれます。
この学校では、___以上の生徒が対象です。(This school is for students 18 years old and above.)
「十八歳」は「じゅうはっさい」と読み、18歳を意味します。成人年齢に関連する文脈でよく使われます。
彼はまだ___ですが、会社の経営を任されています。(He is still young, but he is entrusted with managing the company.)
「二十代半ば」は、20代の中頃、つまり24歳から26歳くらいを指す表現です。特定の年齢ではなく、おおよその年代を表します。
___で海外に留学するのは、貴重な経験になるでしょう。(Studying abroad at a young age will be a valuable experience.)
「若いうち」は「若い年齢のうちに」という意味で、ある行動をするのに適した若い時期を指します。年齢を直接示す「〜歳」とは異なり、期間を表す表現です。
彼の子供は___で、もうすぐ小学校に入学します。(His child is six years old and will enter elementary school soon.)
「六歳」は「ろくさい」と読み、6歳を意味します。子供の年齢を表す際によく使われます。
彼女は高校を卒業したばかりで、まだ___歳です。
高校を卒業したばかりの年齢を考慮すると「18歳」が最も適切です。
彼は社長に就任したばかりですが、もう___歳になります。
「社長に就任したばかり」という表現から、比較的若い年齢が示唆されます。
この地域に住んでいる最高齢の人は___歳です。
「最高齢」という言葉から、最も高い年齢を選ぶのが適切です。
日本で成人として扱われるのは20歳からです。
日本では20歳が成人年齢とされています。
彼は25歳なので、あと5年で30歳になります。
25 + 5 = 30なので、この文は正しいです。
彼女はまだ小学生なので、___歳という表現は使えません。
小学生でも年齢を数えるのに「〜歳」を使います。例えば「8歳」など。
Imagine you're introducing a new colleague at a formal company event. Write a short introduction mentioning their age and department. For example, '田中さんは35歳で、営業部に所属しています。'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
弊社の新しい部長である佐藤様をご紹介いたします。佐藤様は48歳で、長年この業界で活躍されてきました。
You are writing a short blog post about your recent trip to Japan. Describe a memorable encounter with an elderly person, mentioning their approximate age and a brief interaction. For example, '京都で80歳くらいのおばあさんと出会い、日本の文化について話しました。'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
先日、富士山で90歳を超える男性と出会いました。彼は毎週山に登っているそうで、その体力に驚きました。
You're filling out a form for a Japanese language exchange program. Write a sentence stating your age and your reason for wanting to learn Japanese. For example, '私は25歳で、日本の文化に興味があるので日本語を学びたいです。'
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私は30歳で、日本でのキャリアアップを目指しているため、日本語能力の向上に努めています。
田中さんの奥さんは何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
友人の田中さんは、今年で40歳になります。彼は大学卒業後、すぐにIT企業に就職し、以来ずっとプログラマーとして働いています。最近、彼は結婚し、幸せな日々を送っています。奥さんは38歳で、学校の先生をしています。二人は旅行が趣味で、毎年海外へ出かけています。
田中さんの奥さんは何歳ですか？
パッセージに「奥さんは38歳で」と明記されています。
パッセージに「奥さんは38歳で」と明記されています。
このパッセージから読み取れる日本の高齢者の特徴は何ですか？
Read this passage:
日本には「人生100年時代」という言葉があり、長寿社会を象徴しています。健康寿命を延ばすために、多くの人々が運動や食生活に気を配っています。特に、高齢になっても活発に社会参加する人々が増えており、70歳、80歳になっても新しいことに挑戦する姿は珍しくありません。
このパッセージから読み取れる日本の高齢者の特徴は何ですか？
パッセージに「健康寿命を延ばすために、多くの人々が運動や食生活に気を配っています」と書かれています。
パッセージに「健康寿命を延ばすために、多くの人々が運動や食生活に気を配っています」と書かれています。
この家族に関する正しい記述はどれですか？
Read this passage:
私の祖父は、今年で95歳になりますが、毎日庭いじりを欠かしません。彼は若い頃から植物が好きで、今でも新しい種類の花を育てることに情熱を注いでいます。祖母は92歳で、祖父と一緒に庭の手入れをすることを楽しみにしています。二人とも、年齢を感じさせないほど元気です。
この家族に関する正しい記述はどれですか？
パッセージに「二人とも、年齢を感じさせないほど元気です」と明記されています。
パッセージに「二人とも、年齢を感じさせないほど元気です」と明記されています。
This sentence translates to 'My father turns 50 this year.' The particle 'は' marks the subject, '今年' means 'this year,' '50歳に' indicates turning 50, and 'なります' means 'to become.'
This sentence means 'As far as I know, she is about 30 years old.' '彼女は' is the subject, '私の知る限りでは' means 'as far as I know,' and '30歳くらいです' means 'is about 30 years old.'
This sentence translates to 'He is much younger than he looks.' '彼は' is the subject, '見た目よりも' means 'than he looks,' 'ずっと' means 'much/far,' and '若い歳です' means 'is a young age.'
彼女は高校を卒業し、現在20___です。
「歳」は年齢を数える助数詞です。「才」も年齢を表しますが、よりカジュアルな場面で使われます。フォーマルな文脈では「歳」が適切です。
彼は30___の節目を迎え、新しいキャリアをスタートさせました。
「節目」という表現と合わせて、人生の区切りとしての年齢を表すには「歳」が自然です。
その子はまだ幼く、たったの5___でピアノの発表会に出ました。
子供の年齢を表現する際に「歳」を用いるのは一般的です。「才」も間違いではありませんが、「歳」の方がよりフォーマルな印象を与えます。
来月で父は還暦、つまり60___になります。
「還暦」という特定の年齢の呼び方と組み合わせる場合、「歳」が最も自然で適切な助数詞です。
法律では、18___未満の飲酒は禁止されています。
法律や規則など、厳密な表現が求められる場面では「歳」が適切です。
祖母は90___を超えていますが、とても元気です。
高齢者の年齢を表現する際にも「歳」が一般的に使われます。「〜代」は年代を表しますが、具体的な年齢を指す場合は「歳」です。
Choose the correct way to ask "How old are you?" in a very polite context.
「おいくつですか」is the most polite and commonly used phrase to inquire about someone's age. 「何歳ですか」is also correct but less formal. The other options are not standard ways to ask about age.
When referring to a 20-year-old, which of the following is most appropriate in a formal setting?
「二十歳（はたち）」is the traditional and most common reading for 20 years old, especially in formal contexts. The other readings are less common or incorrect in this specific context.
Which sentence correctly uses the age counter when discussing the legal drinking age in Japan?
「二十歳（はたち）」is the standard and most natural way to refer to the age of 20 in this context. While '20歳' is sometimes seen, the kanji '二十歳' is preferred for specific age references. 「〜才」is a simplified form of 「〜歳」 and is less formal. The other options are grammatically correct but less natural phrasing for this specific concept.
「一歳」 is pronounced 「いっさい」.
Yes, 「一歳」is pronounced 「いっさい」due to phonetic changes (sokuon) that occur when 'ichi' (one) combines with 'sai' (age counter).
In Japanese, when asking a child's age, it's always appropriate to use 「おいくつですか」.
While 「おいくつですか」is polite, for children, it's often more natural and common to use 「何歳ですか？」or even 「〜ちゃん、いくつ？」(for very young children). The formality of 「おいくつですか」can sometimes feel a bit stiff when speaking to a child directly.
The counter 「〜歳」is only used for human ages, not for the age of objects or animals.
While primarily used for human ages, 「〜歳」can also be used for the age of animals, especially pets, and sometimes even for the age of trees or buildings in a metaphorical sense, although other counters might be more common for inanimate objects.
Imagine you are writing a detailed family history. Describe the ages of at least three family members at significant points in their lives (e.g., marriage, graduation, starting a business), using '〜歳' correctly. Explain the significance of these ages.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の祖父は25歳で祖母と結婚し、彼らにとって新しい章が始まりました。祖母は30歳で自分のパン屋を開き、その店の成功は家族にとって大きな支えとなりました。私の父は22歳で大学を卒業し、すぐに自分の会社を立ち上げました。これらの年齢は、彼らの人生の転換点を示しています。
You are a biographer detailing the life of a famous historical figure. Write a paragraph about a crucial period in their life, highlighting how their age (using '〜歳') influenced their decisions and achievements during that time. Focus on the nuances of their development.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
著名な哲学者、田中氏が35歳の時、彼はその後の彼の思想を形作る画期的な著作を執筆しました。この年齢は、彼の知的な成熟と人生経験が深く結びつき、彼の哲学に独自の深みをもたらした時期でした。彼の20代の作品と比較すると、この35歳での作品は、より洗練され、人生の複雑さに対する深い洞察が反映されています。
Compose a short essay discussing the concept of 'coming of age' in Japanese society. Incorporate several instances of '〜歳' to describe different milestones or legal ages that signify maturity or responsibility in Japan. Compare these to your own culture if applicable.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
日本社会において「成人」という概念は非常に重要です。かつては20歳で成人として扱われ、飲酒や喫煙が許可され、選挙権も与えられました。しかし、2022年からは18歳で成人となり、新たな責任が課せられるようになりました。例えば、18歳でクレジットカードの契約や携帯電話の購入が可能になります。これは、私の文化における成人年齢と比較すると、少し早いと感じるかもしれません。これらの「〜歳」は、単なる数字ではなく、社会的な期待と個人の自立の象徴です。
この政治家が初めて国会議員になったのは何歳でしたか？
Read this passage:
ある政治家は、25歳で初めて地方議員に当選し、38歳で国会議員となりました。彼の政治キャリアは順風満帆に見えましたが、50歳の時には大きなスキャンダルに見舞われ、その責任を取って一度は政界を引退しました。しかし、60歳で再び立候補し、見事に返り咲きを果たしました。
この政治家が初めて国会議員になったのは何歳でしたか？
文章中に「38歳で国会議員となりました」と明記されています。
文章中に「38歳で国会議員となりました」と明記されています。
彼女がノーベル賞を受賞したのは何歳ですか？
Read this passage:
科学者である彼女は、10代の頃から科学に興味を持ち、20歳で名門大学の博士課程に進学しました。28歳で画期的な発見を発表し、その功績が認められ、35歳でノーベル賞を受賞しました。彼女は、若い世代の科学者にとって大きなインスピレーションとなっています。
彼女がノーベル賞を受賞したのは何歳ですか？
文章中に「35歳でノーベル賞を受賞しました」と明記されています。
文章中に「35歳でノーベル賞を受賞しました」と明記されています。
この作家が再びヒット作を生み出したのは何歳でしたか？
Read this passage:
この作家は、20代の頃から小説を書き始め、30歳で初のベストセラーを出版しました。しかし、40代になってからスランプに陥り、新作が出なくなりました。55歳で心機一転、海外に渡り、そこで得た経験をもとに、62歳で再びヒット作を生み出しました。彼の人生は波瀾万丈でした。
この作家が再びヒット作を生み出したのは何歳でしたか？
文章中に「62歳で再びヒット作を生み出しました」と明記されています。
文章中に「62歳で再びヒット作を生み出しました」と明記されています。
The correct order forms the sentence 'She is twenty years old.'
This arrangement translates to 'How old is your father?'
The correct sequence forms the sentence 'I will be thirty next month.'
/ 120 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
〜歳 is the standard counter used directly after a number to express someone's age in Japanese, like 'X years old'.
- Use after a number to say 'years old'.
- It's a common age counter.
- Essential for discussing ages.
Basic use of 〜歳
To state someone's age, you attach 〜歳 (さい / sai) directly after the number. For example, ５歳 (ごさい / gosai) means '5 years old'.
Pronunciation changes for 〜歳
The pronunciation of 歳 can change depending on the preceding number. For instance, １歳 (いっさい / issai), ８歳 (はっさい / hassai), and １０歳 (じゅっさい / jussai or じっさい / jissai) have a small 'tsu' sound before 'sai'.
Asking someone's age
To ask someone's age, you can use 何歳ですか？ (なんさいですか？ / nansai desu ka?) which means 'How old are you?'
Formal way to ask age
For a more polite way to ask someone's age, especially to elders or strangers, use おいくつですか？ (oikutsu desu ka?). This is more formal than 何歳ですか？
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr general Wörter
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2A little; a moment; a bit. Small amount or short time.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2A little while ago; a short time past.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2About, concerning; indicates topic.
〜について
B1About, concerning; on the subject of.
～ぐらい
A2about, approximately
ぐらい
A2About; approximately; to the extent of.
