年をとっています
toshi o totteimasu
The English phrase "I am old" is expressed in Japanese as 年をとっています (toshi o totteimasu).
This phrase is used to state that someone has reached an advanced age. In Japanese, the subject is often omitted, so depending on the context, 年をとっています can mean "I am old" or it can mean "He/She is old".
How do you pronounce it?
toshi o totteimasu
Did you know?
- The phrase avoids the word 古い (furui), which means 'old' for objects like clothes or books, because using it for a person would be a grave insult.
- The verb in this phrase, とる (toru), literally means 'to take' or 'to catch', so you are essentially saying you have 'taken years'.
- To avoid the bluntness of 年をとっています, people often say 若くない meaning 'not young', which is a culturally preferred way to admit to being old.
Examples in context
- 私はもう年をとっています。watashi wa mou toshi o totte imasu.I am already old.
- 年をとっていますが、元気です。toshi o totte imasu ga, genki desu.I am old, but I am healthy.
- それでも、年をとっていますから。soredemo, toshi o totte imasu kara.Still, it is because I am old.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking about their health.
- 蓮 Ren最近、疲れやすくなりました。Saikin, tsukareyasukunari mashita.I've been getting tired easily lately.
- 陽葵 Himariそれはどうしてですか？Sore wa dōshite desu ka?Why is that?
- 蓮 Ren私も年をとっていますからね。Watashi mo toshi o totte imasu kara ne.Because I am old, too.
- 陽葵 Himariそんなことないですよ。Sonna koto nai desu yo.That's not true.
