Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to express international age in Korean! Whether you’re planning to travel to Korea, have Korean friends, or simply want to expand your language skills, understanding how to calculate and express international age is essential. In this guide, we will cover both the formal and informal ways, highlighting tips, examples, and even regional variations if necessary. So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say International Age in Korean
When it comes to formal settings, such as speaking to acquaintances, seniors, or in professional situations, using the following phrases would be appropriate:
1. 만 나이 (man nai): This phrase is widely used in formal contexts and literally translates to “full-age.” It is calculated simply by adding one to your birth year. For example, if someone was born in 1990, their 만 나이 would be 31 in 2021.
2. 세 (se): Another formal way to express age is by simply using the Korean word for age, 세. For instance, if someone is 25 years old, you can say “스무 세입니다” (seumu seipnida), which means “I am 25 years old” in a polite manner.
Informal Ways to Say International Age in Korean
When conversing with close friends or peers, Koreans usually opt for more informal ways to express international age. Here are a few common phrases:
1. 한국나이 (hanguk nai): This phrase literally translates to “Korean age.” Koreans consider the time spent in the womb as the first year of life; hence, when a baby is born, they turn one year old. Then, on every New Year’s Day, everyone’s age increases by one. So, regardless of birth date, using Korean age is customary when speaking casually. For example, if someone was born in December 1995, their 한국나이 would be 27 on January 1st, 2021.
2. 몇 살이에요? (myeot sari-eyo?): In more informal settings, you can ask someone’s age by using this phrase, which means “How old are you?” Simply replace “myeot” with the respective number. For example, 몇 살이에요? (myeot sari-eyo?) means “How old are you?” and the response could be “스무 살이에요.” (seumu sari-eyo) meaning “I am 20 years old.”
Tips for Communicating Age in Korean
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to discussing age in the Korean language:
- Pronouns: While introducing yourself, it is essential to use the appropriate pronouns in Korean. Use “저는” (jeoneun) to mean “I” and “제 이름은” (je ireum-eun) to mean “My name is.”
- Honorifics: When speaking to individuals who are older or hold higher social status, showing respect through the use of appropriate honorifics is crucial. Add “요” (yo) at the end of sentences to convey politeness.
- Polite Expressions: When addressing someone you are not familiar with, consider using respectful expressions. Saying “어떻게 지냈어요?” (eotteohge jinaess-eoyo?) meaning “How have you been?” shows politeness and interest in the other person.
Examples of Conversations
To help you understand how to express international age in Korean, here are a couple of example conversations:
Conversation 1:
Person A: 안녕하세요! 만나서 반갑습니다. (Hello! Nice to meet you.)
Person B: 반갑습니다. 제 이름은 세라이고, 만 나이는 스무 네에요. (Nice to meet you. My name is Sarah, and I am 24 years old.)
Person A: 제 이름은 준호에요. 한국나이로 몇 살이에요? (My name is Junho. How old are you in Korean age?)
Person B: 저는 한국나이로 스묘이에요. (I am 20 years old in Korean age.)
Conversation 2:
Person A: 민지 씨, 몇 살이에요? (Minji, how old are you?)
Person B: 저는 몇 살일까요? (Well, guess how old I am?)
Person A: 예측해봐요. 기분상, 스묘이죠? (Let me guess. I feel like you are 20 years old.)
Person B: 그렇네요! 정답이에요. (That’s right! You got it.)
Remember, these examples cover both formal and informal ways to express international age in Korean, demonstrating how to appropriately address individuals based on different settings or levels of familiarity.
Now, armed with this knowledge, you can confidently navigate conversations involving age in Korean, whether it be in formal or informal contexts. Enjoy practicing and expanding your language skills!
