When talking about someone's age in Chinese, a common and polite way to ask is with 岁数 (suìshu). This word literally combines 'year' (岁) and 'number' (数), making it easy to remember.
You'll often hear 岁数 used in everyday conversations, especially when speaking to or about adults. It's a general term, so you can use it in many different situations.
When talking about someone's age, a common and polite way to ask is with 岁数 (suìshu). Although it means 'age', it's primarily used in casual settings and with people you know well or those younger than you. If you're asking about an elder's age, it's more appropriate to use 年龄 (niánlíng) or 多少岁 (duōshǎo suì) to show respect. Remember, 岁数 is quite colloquial, so it's good for informal chats but less so for formal situations. Knowing when to use 岁数 helps you sound more natural in everyday Chinese conversations.
Alright, let's talk about "岁数" (suìshu). This word means 'age' in Chinese, and it's super common in everyday conversation. You'll hear it a lot, especially when people are chatting informally.
You might be thinking, "Wait, isn't '年龄' (niánlíng) also 'age'?" You're right! But there's a difference, and knowing when to use which will make your Chinese sound much more natural. We'll get to that.
§ What is "岁数"?
- DEFINITION
- age (colloquial)
"岁数" is a noun. It literally means 'years number'. It's primarily used when you're talking about someone's age in a casual way. Think of it like saying 'how old are you?' instead of 'what is your age?' in English. It's friendlier, more relaxed.
你岁数多大了？
Translation hint: How old are you? (Literally: Your age is how big?)
他岁数不小了，应该结婚了。
Translation hint: He's not young anymore (his age isn't small), he should get married.
§ "岁数" vs. "年龄"
Here's the crucial part. Both mean 'age', but they live in different linguistic neighborhoods.
- 岁数 (suìshu): This is your go-to for informal, everyday chats. When you're talking to friends, family, or even friendly strangers, use "岁数". It's warm and casual. You'll often hear it with words like 多大 (duōdà - how big/old) or 不小了 (bù xiǎo le - not small anymore/getting old).
- 年龄 (niánlíng): This is more formal. Think official documents, surveys, news reports, or when you're talking about age in a more abstract or serious context. If you're filling out a form that asks for your 'age', it will say "年龄". It feels a bit more detached and objective.
请填写您的年龄。
Translation hint: Please fill in your age.
调查显示，年轻人普遍认为工作压力大。 (This survey shows that young people generally think work pressure is high.)
You wouldn't typically say "这个调查显示年轻人的岁数普遍认为..." It just sounds off. "年龄" fits perfectly here because it's a formal context talking about a demographic.
§ Practical Usage Tips
Another common way to ask someone's age informally, especially for children or younger people, is "你几岁了?" (nǐ jǐ suì le? - How many years old are you?). For adults, especially older ones, directly asking "你几岁了?" can sometimes be considered a bit impolite, though less so than in some Western cultures. "你岁数多大了?" is a good, polite, and informal alternative for adults.
这孩子真可爱，几岁了？
Translation hint: This kid is so cute, how old is he/she?
Notice that when we use 几 (jǐ - how many/few) to ask 'how many years old', we just use 岁 (suì), not 岁数. "岁数" is the general noun for 'age', while "岁" is used when you're stating or asking the number of years.
So, in short: "岁数" for casual talk, "年龄" for formal stuff, and "岁" when you're counting the years. Master these, and you'll sound much more like a native speaker!
Nível de dificuldade
Short and common characters.
Simple characters to write.
Common pronunciation, two familiar tones.
Very common word in daily conversation.
O que aprender depois
Pré-requisitos
Aprenda a seguir
Avançado
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
你多大岁数？
How old are you? (more colloquial than 你多大了?)
他岁数大了。
He is old. (He's advanced in age.)
这孩子岁数还小。
This child is still young. (This kid's age is still small.)
看他的岁数，应该比我大。
Looking at his age, he should be older than me.
别问女士岁数。
Don't ask a lady's age. (Don't ask female's age.)
他们岁数差不多。
They are about the same age. (Their ages are almost similar.)
岁数大了，记性就差了。
As one gets older, memory gets worse. (Age is big, memory then bad.)
你猜我多大岁数？
Guess how old I am? (You guess my age is how big?)
她看起来比实际岁数年轻。
She looks younger than her actual age. (She looks compared to actual age, young.)
我们岁数相差不大。
Our ages don't differ much. (Our ages difference is not big.)
Família de palavras
Substantivos
Adjetivos
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasBoth 岁 (suì) and 岁数 (suìshu) mean 'age'. 岁 is the more general and formal term, while 岁数 is more colloquial and often used in everyday conversation. Think of 岁 as 'years old' and 岁数 as 'one's age' in a more casual sense. For example, you might ask someone '你几岁了?' (Nǐ jǐ suì le? - How old are you?) or '你岁数多大了?' (Nǐ suìshu duō dà le? - What's your age?).
You can generally use 岁数 in informal settings, like talking with friends, family, or people you know well. It adds a touch of casualness to your speech. For example, if you're asking about a child's age, '小孩子岁数不大吧?' (Xiǎoháizi suìshu bù dà ba? - The kid isn't very old, right?) sounds quite natural.
No, 岁数 is specifically used for people's age. For objects or animals, you would typically use 年头 (niántou) for 'age' or 'years' in a general sense, or simply state the number of years. For example, '这棵树有很多年头了' (Zhè kē shù yǒu hěn duō niántou le - This tree is very old).
Yes, it's perfectly polite in informal contexts. In more formal situations, like in a business meeting or when addressing someone much older or in a position of authority, '岁' might be slightly preferred for its more neutral tone. However, using 岁数 isn't rude; it just indicates a more relaxed register.
You can ask '你岁数多大了?' (Nǐ suìshu duō dà le?). This is a common and friendly way to inquire about someone's age. Another way is '你岁数是多少?' (Nǐ suìshu shì duōshao? - What is your age?).
You can say '我的岁数是...' (Wǒ de suìshu shì...). For example, '我的岁数是三十' (Wǒ de suìshu shì sānshí - My age is thirty). However, it's more common to simply state your age directly with 岁: '我三十岁' (Wǒ sānshí suì - I am thirty years old).
Yes, it can. You can say '他岁数大了' (Tā suìshu dà le - His age is big, meaning he's old) or '她岁数小' (Tā suìshu xiǎo - Her age is small, meaning she's young). These are informal and natural ways to describe someone's general age range.
Not really specific idioms, but it's often used in phrases like '看岁数' (kàn suìshu - judging by age) or '不看岁数' (bù kàn suìshu - not judging by age). For example, '他看岁数不小了' (Tā kàn suìshu bù xiǎo le - He looks quite old).
岁数 is predominantly used in spoken Chinese. In written Chinese, especially in formal documents or literature, you're more likely to see 岁. However, in informal writing like social media posts or personal emails, 岁数 is perfectly acceptable.
No, 岁数 primarily means 'age' in a colloquial sense. It doesn't have other distinct meanings. Its usage is quite straightforward, making it an easy word to pick up for learners.
Teste-se 48 perguntas
Write a sentence asking someone's age using '岁数'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
你岁数多大了？ (How old are you?)
Write a sentence stating 'My age is twenty.' using '岁数'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我的岁数是二十。 (My age is twenty.)
Write a simple sentence about someone's age being big using '岁数'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他岁数大了。 (He is old.)
What is person B's age?
Read this passage:
A: 你岁数多大了？ B: 我岁数二十岁。
What is person B's age?
B says '我岁数二十岁', which means 'My age is twenty years old'.
B says '我岁数二十岁', which means 'My age is twenty years old'.
What does the passage say about Teacher Wang's age?
Read this passage:
王老师的岁数不小了，但是她很健康。
What does the passage say about Teacher Wang's age?
不小了 (bù xiǎo le) means 'not small anymore', which implies 'old' when talking about age. The full sentence is 'Teacher Wang's age is not small anymore, but she is very healthy.'
不小了 (bù xiǎo le) means 'not small anymore', which implies 'old' when talking about age. The full sentence is 'Teacher Wang's age is not small anymore, but she is very healthy.'
What does the passage say about the child's age?
Read this passage:
这个小孩子的岁数很小。
What does the passage say about the child's age?
很小 (hěn xiǎo) means 'very small', referring to age here. The full sentence is 'This small child's age is very small.'
很小 (hěn xiǎo) means 'very small', referring to age here. The full sentence is 'This small child's age is very small.'
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 你奶奶的___多大？(How old is your grandma?)
Both 岁数 (suìshu) and 年龄 (niánlíng) mean 'age', but 岁数 is more colloquial and commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when asking about an older person's age. 年龄 is more formal.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses '岁数'?
岁数 (suìshu) refers specifically to a person's age. It's not used for objects or things. The correct sentence means 'He looks quite old (his age is not small).'
What is the most natural way to ask about someone's age using '岁数' in a casual setting?
“你多大岁数了？” (Nǐ duō dà suìshu le?) is a very common and natural way to ask 'How old are you?' using 岁数 (suìshu) in an informal context.
You can use '岁数' to ask about a child's age.
While 岁数 (suìshu) generally means age, it's more often used for adults or older people. For children, you would typically use expressions like '你几岁了？' (Nǐ jǐ suì le? - How old are you?) or '他多大了？' (Tā duō dà le? - How old is he?).
'岁数' is a more formal term than '年龄'.
Actually, it's the opposite. 岁数 (suìshu) is more colloquial and informal, while 年龄 (niánlíng) is more formal.
The sentence '我不知道他的岁数。' (Wǒ bù zhīdào tā de suìshu.) means 'I don't know his age.'
This sentence correctly uses 岁数 (suìshu) to refer to a person's age, meaning 'I don't know his age.'
Someone is asking about age.
Referring to a grandmother's age.
Commenting on someone's apparent age.
Read this aloud:
你多大岁数了？
Focus: duō dà suì shu
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我妈妈的岁数比我爸爸小一点。
Focus: suì shu bǐ
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
不要问女士岁数。
Focus: bú yào wèn nǚ shì suì shu
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
This is a common way to ask someone's age informally.
This sentence means 'He looks young' or 'He doesn't look old.'
This means 'My grandma is very old.' '岁数高' (suìshu gāo) is a polite way to say someone is old.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 他看起来很年轻，你猜他有_____？
“岁数” is a common, informal way to ask about someone's age, often when guessing or expressing surprise. “年龄” is more formal.
Which of these sentences correctly uses “岁数”?
“岁数” is a noun and is usually used with words like “多少” (how much/many) or to state the age directly. The other options have grammatical errors in their usage of “岁数”.
If someone asks '你岁数多大？', what are they asking?
“你岁数多大？” is a colloquial way to ask someone's age.
You can use '岁数' in a formal business report.
“岁数” is a colloquial term. For formal contexts, “年龄” (niánlíng) is more appropriate.
When asking an elderly person their age, '您多大岁数了？' is a polite way to ask.
Adding '您' (nín) and '了' (le) makes the question polite and appropriate for an elderly person, and '岁数' is commonly used in this context.
“岁数” can be used to refer to the age of inanimate objects.
“岁数” specifically refers to the age of people, not objects. For objects, you would typically use other terms like “历史” (lìshǐ - history) or describe how long it's existed.
What is your younger sister's age this year?
My grandma is old, and her hearing is a bit poor.
He doesn't look very old, but he is very experienced.
Read this aloud:
问问他的岁数。
Focus: 岁数 (suìshu)
Você disse:
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Read this aloud:
她的岁数比我大几岁。
Focus: 比 (bǐ)
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
这个孩子岁数虽小，但是很懂事。
Focus: 虽 (suī)
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Ask about someone's age in a colloquial way.
Describe someone as looking young.
Talk about an elderly person's hearing.
Read this aloud:
你哥哥多大岁数了？
Focus: suìshu
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
我们家最小的孩子岁数还小。
Focus: xiǎo
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
别看他岁数大，身体还很棒。
Focus: bàng
Você disse:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: “虽然他______大了，但身体还很硬朗。”
岁数 is a colloquial term for age, fitting the informal tone of describing someone's physical condition despite their advanced years. 年龄 is more formal, 时候 means 'time', and 日期 means 'date'.
Which sentence best expresses the idea of someone being quite old using '岁数'?
他岁数不小了 literally means 'his age is not small', which is a common and polite way to say someone is quite old in Chinese. The other options imply the opposite or are nonsensical.
In which scenario would '岁数' be the most natural choice?
岁数 is a colloquial term, making it suitable for informal conversations among friends. For formal documents, historical discussions, or job applications, 年龄 (age) would be more appropriate.
You can use '岁数' interchangeably with '年龄' in all contexts.
False. While both mean 'age', 岁数 is colloquial and informal, whereas 年龄 is more formal and can be used in a wider range of contexts, including official documents and academic discussions.
'他岁数大了' means 'He is getting younger'.
False. '他岁数大了' (Tā suìshu dà le) literally means 'his age is big now', which implies he is getting older or is old.
When asking about a child's age, '你多大岁数了？' is a perfectly natural and common question.
True. While '你多大？' (nǐ duō dà?) is more common for children, '你多大岁数了？' (nǐ duō dà suìshu le?) is also natural and frequently used in casual conversation to ask a child's age, especially when expressing surprise or endearment.
/ 48 correct
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一下儿
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点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
