Understanding Age in Japanese Grammar

Expressing age in the Japanese language is an essential aspect of communication, especially when it comes to social interactions and cultural understanding. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of age in Japanese grammar, focusing on the specific structures and vocabulary you need to master this aspect of the language.

Numerals and Counters for Age in Japanese

The first step to expressing age in Japanese is to become familiar with the Japanese numerals and counters. When referring to age, you will need to use the sino-Japanese numerical system (e.g., 一 (ichi), 二 (ni), 三 (san), 四 (shi)).

To specify age, the counter “歳” (さい / sai) is used. For example, “20歳” (はたち) refers to twenty years old, with “20” as the numeral and “歳” as the counter for age. Note that “20” is an exception in age; with most other ages, you would use the regular numbering system.

Common Age-related Vocabulary in Japanese

Japanese age vocabulary is not limited to numbers and counters; there are also words to describe one’s age group, such as:

1. 若い (わかい / wakai): young
2. 年上 (としうえ / toshiue): older
3. 年下 (としした / toshishita): younger
4. 年齢 (ねんれい / nenrei): age
5. 老人 (ろうじん / roujin): old person
6. 中年 (ちゅうねん / chuunen): middle-aged

Expressing Age with Japanese Verbs

When communicating about age in Japanese, you will need to know relevant verbs that convey the action of being a certain age. The most commonly used verb is “〜歳です” (～さいです / ~sai desu) or “～歳になる” (～さいになる / ~sai ni naru), both of which can mean “to be ~ years old” in English.

For example, “彼は25歳です” (かれはにじゅうごさいです / kare wa nijuu go sai desu) translates to “He is 25 years old” and “今年で21歳になります” (ことしだいじゅういっさいになります / kotoshi de juu issai ni narimasu) means “I will turn 21 this year.”

Asking Someone’s Age in Japanese

Inquiring about someone’s age in Japanese can be done simply by asking “おいくつですか?” (おいくつですか / oikutsu desu ka). When asking an older person or someone you want to show respect to, a more polite expression is “お歳を伺ってもよろしいですか?” (おとしおうかがってもよろしいですか / otoshi o ukagatte mo yoroshii desu ka). Both phrases seek to inquire about the individual’s age.

Practice Scenario: Introducing Yourself with Age

To demonstrate the real-life application of expressing age in Japanese grammar, let’s analyze a scenario in which you need to introduce yourself:

1. はじめまして (hajimemashite): Nice to meet you
2. 私はジョンです (わたしはじょんです / watashi wa Jon desu): My name is John
3. アメリカ人です (あめりかじんです / Amerika-jin desu): I am American
4. 今年で25歳です (ことしでにじゅうごさいです / kotoshi de nijuu go sai desu): I am 25 years old this year
5. よろしくお願いします (よろしくおねがいします / yoroshiku onegaishimasu): Nice to meet you (a more humble, polite expression)

Conclusion

Mastering age expression in Japanese grammar is crucial for effective communication, cultural understanding, and forming connections with people in Japan. Familiarize yourself with the numerals, counters, vocabulary, and verbs related to age to seamlessly navigate social interactions in the Japanese language.