내 나이
nae nai
The English phrase "my age" is expressed in Korean as 내 나이 (nae nai).
The phrase refers to the number of years a person has lived. When stating a specific age, you can use the word 살, which means "years old", following a pure Korean number.
What does it mean word for word?
내 나이 is composed of 내, meaning "my" and 나이, meaning "age".
Which one should you use?
내 나이 is the casual version of the phrase, while 제 나이 is the humble and polite version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
내 나이 is used in informal or casual situations, such as when speaking with friends or people younger than you. In polite or formal situations, or when speaking to strangers and elders, you should use 제 나이 to show respect.
How do you pronounce it?
nae nai
Did you know?
- Until recently, many Koreans used a 'Korean age' system where a person is one year old at birth and gains a year every New Year's Day.
- The word 나이 can be used in the phrase 나이를 먹다, which literally translates to 'eating age' to describe the process of getting older.
- In Korean, the concept of age is so central to social hierarchy that it determines the grammar a person uses, including which verb endings and pronouns are required to avoid offending the listener.
Examples in context
- 내 한국 나이는 스물 여섯 살이야.My Korean age is twenty-six.
- 내 나이를 말하기 싫어.nae nairul malhagi sirheo.I don't want to say my age.
- 내 나이가 믿기지 않아.nae naiga mitgiji ana.I can't believe my age.
Example conversation
Jihoon and Seoyeon are chatting about their birthdays.
- 지훈 Ji-hun서연 씨, 내 나이가 몇 살 것 같아요?Seoyeon ssi, nae nai-ga myeot sal geot gatayo?Seoyeon, how old do you think my age is?
- 서연 Seo-yeon스물다섯 살 아닐까요?seumul-daseot sal anilkkayo?Maybe twenty-five?
- 지훈 Ji-hun틀렸어요. 내 나이는 스물일곱이에요.teullyeosseoyo. nae nai-neun seumul-ilgop-ieyo.Wrong. My age is twenty-seven.
- 서연 Seo-yeon생각보다 더 많으시네요!saenggak-boda deo maneusineyo!You're older than I thought!
