…歳です
… sai desu
To say "I am years old" in Japanese, use …歳です (… sai desu).
This phrase is used to state one's age. In Japanese, you do not need to include the word for "I" (watashi wa) when the context makes it clear you are talking about yourself.
Which one should you use?
While …歳です is a standard form, you can use [age] sai da. for a simple expression in informal settings, or the more casual Ore wa [age] sai. which is commonly used among males.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I was [number] years old," change the copula from desu to deshita to form …歳でした.
How do you pronounce it?
… sai desu
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the word nen (year) instead of sai (age) when stating their age.
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese culture, it was common to count age as kazoedoshi, where a person is one year old at birth and turns a year older every New Year's Day. This means a baby born in December would be considered two years old just a few days later.
- In some contexts, Japanese people may describe their age by referencing the 'era name' of the Emperor during the year they were born.
- If you reach the age of twenty, you can use the specific term hatachi instead of saying ni-juu-sai, which is a special way to celebrate reaching adulthood.
