Guide: How to Say Age in Chinese

Learning how to say someone’s age in Chinese is not only helpful for daily conversations, but it also shows your interest in Chinese culture and language. In this guide, we will explore both the formal and informal ways to express age in Chinese. We’ll also provide tips, examples, and regional variations if necessary. So, let’s dive in!

Formal Ways to Say Age

When it comes to formal settings or situations, it is important to use appropriate language to show respect. Here are some formal phrases to express age in Chinese:

• 我今年… (Wǒ jīnnián…) – “I am… years old this year.”
  Example: 我今年二十岁。 (Wǒ jīnnián èrshí suì.) – “I am twenty years old this year.”
• 我已经… (Wǒ yǐjīng…) – “I have already…”
  Example: 我已经三十岁了。 (Wǒ yǐjīng sānshí suì le.) – “I am already thirty years old.”
• 今年是我的… (Jīnnián shì wǒ de…) – “This year is my…”
  Example: 今年是我的十八岁生日。 (Jīnnián shì wǒ de shíbā suì shēngrì.) – “This year is my 18th birthday.”

Informal Ways to Say Age

In informal or casual situations, people often use simpler expressions to state their age. Here are some informal ways to express age in Chinese:

• 我…岁了。 (Wǒ… suì le.) – “I am… years old.”
  Example: 我十岁了。 (Wǒ shí suì le.) – “I am ten years old.”
• 我已经…了。 (Wǒ yǐjīng… le.) – “I have already…”
  Example: 我已经二十五岁了。 (Wǒ yǐjīng èrshíwǔ suì le.) – “I am already twenty-five years old.”
• 今年我… (Jīnnián wǒ…) – “This year I…”
  Example: 今年我二十一岁。 (Jīnnián wǒ èrshíyī suì.) – “This year, I am twenty-one years old.”

Tips for Talking about Age in Chinese

Before we conclude, here are a few tips to keep in mind when discussing age in Chinese:

1. It is common in Chinese culture to avoid directly asking someone’s age, especially if the person is older than you or of higher social status. Politeness is crucial.
2. Pay attention to the use of measure words (classifiers) when expressing age. For example, “one year old” is 一岁 (yī suì), where 一 (yī) is the numeral and 岁 (suì) is the classifier.
3. When asking someone’s age, a more subtle approach is to use phrases like 大概 (dàgài) meaning “approximately” or 几岁 (jǐ suì) meaning “how old”.
4. Remember that age in Chinese is considered an important factor in social hierarchy, so it may influence the way people interact with each other.

Note: Regional variations in expressing age may exist, especially in dialects or local customs. The examples provided in this guide reflect standard Mandarin Chinese.

Conclusion

Expressing age in Chinese can be approached through different formal and informal phrases. While formal usage is appropriate in official or respectful situations, informal expressions work better in casual conversations. Remember the tips mentioned to navigate age discussions with cultural sensitivity. By incorporating these phrases into your vocabulary, you’ll be better equipped to engage in conversations about age with Chinese speakers.