Meaning
The counter 歳 follows a number when stating or asking someone's age.
Formation
- Number + 歳 (sai): 十歳です
- Twenty is 二十歳 (hatachi)
- Question: 何歳ですか, polite おいくつですか
When to use it
- Core use
- States a person or animal's age
Examples
18 sentences-
私は二十歳です
I am twenty years old.
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姉は二十歳の時に日本へ行きました
My older sister went to Japan when she was twenty.
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この子は来月六歳になります
This child will turn six next month.
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妹は十歳です
My younger sister is ten years old.
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田中さんは三十五歳です
Mr. Tanaka is thirty-five years old.
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この猫は三歳です
This cat is three years old.
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お子さんは何歳ですか
How old is your child?
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祖父は七十歳です
My grandfather is seventy years old.
10 more examples
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妹は今日で八歳です
My younger sister is eight today.
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息子は一歳です
My son is one year old.
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娘は来月で十歳です
My daughter turns ten next month.
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私は去年二十歳でした
I was twenty last year.
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お姉さんは何歳ですか
How old is your older sister?
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兄は二十五歳です
My older brother is twenty-five.
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祖母は七十歳です
My grandmother is seventy.
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この犬は三歳です
This dog is three years old.
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弟はまだ六歳です
My younger brother is only six.
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二人は同じ十八歳です
They are both eighteen.
Important notes
- Special readings: 一歳 いっさい, 八歳 はっさい, 十歳 じゅっさい (also じっさい), 二十歳 はたち. 何歳ですか is plain; おいくつですか is the polite question.
Common mistakes
- Read 二十歳 as はたち when giving an age. Asking a superior 何歳ですか sounds blunt; use おいくつですか.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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