你幾多歲？
nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?
How to say "how old are you?" in Cantonese is 你幾多歲？ (nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?)
The phrase 你幾多歲？ is a question used to ask someone about their age. You can use the word 你 to mean "you", 幾 to mean "how many" and 歲 to mean "years". Additionally, the phrase 幾多 literally means "how many" or "how much". You can also use the word 年紀 to specifically refer to "age". If you wish to be more polite or signal that you are about to ask a question, you can add 請問 at the beginning, which translates to "May I ask…" or "Excuse me, but…".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down as follows: 你 (you), 幾多 (how many/how much) and 歲 (years of age).
Which one should you use?
While 你幾多歲？ is used for children or peers, it is not the appropriate polite form for asking an elder's age. You may also encounter the form 你幾多歲呀？, where adding the particle 呀 at the end makes the question sound softer and more natural in spoken Cantonese.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
你幾多歲？ is the standard way to ask age in an informal or neutral setting, such as with peers or children.
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?
When do people say it?
In Cantonese culture, asking a person's age directly can be considered impolite if the person is significantly older or of higher social status.
Did you know?
- In very formal or traditional settings, a person might describe their age by their zodiac animal rather than a number.
- In traditional Cantonese society, some people avoid saying the exact number of their age on their birthday to avoid 'tempting fate' or inviting bad luck.
- When asking an elder their age, instead of using 'years' (歲), Cantonese speakers often use the term 高壽 (high longevity) to show respect.
Examples in context
- 你幾多歲？nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?How old are you?
- 想問下，你幾多歲？soeng2 man6 haa5, nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?May I ask, how old are you?
- 小朋友，你幾多歲？siu2 pang4 jau5, nei5 gei2 do1 seoi3?Little one, how old are you?
Example conversation
Two children meet for the first time at a park.
- 家明 Ka Ming你好，我係家明。你幾多歲？nei hou, ngo hai gaa ming. nei gei do seoi?Hello, I am Ka Ming. How old are you?
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我叫雅婷，我六歲。ngo giu aa ting, ngo luk seoi.My name is Ya Ting, I am six years old.
- 家明 Ka Ming我都係六歲！ngo dou hai luk seoi!I am six too!
- 雅婷 Nga Ting咁我哋一齊玩啦！gam ngo dei jat cai waan laa!Then let's play together!
