How to Say "Older" in Japanese

年上の

The English word "older" can be translated into Japanese using 年上の.

The term 年上 is used to describe a person's relative age compared to someone else, rather than describing an object's age or antiquity.

Meaning: comparative form of old, more old (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The term is composed of 年 (year) and 上 (above/up), literally meaning 'above in years'.

年上 refers specifically to being older in age, whereas 古い is used to describe objects that are old.

The particle の is used to connect the noun phrase 年上 to a following noun, such as 年上の人 (an older person).

In Japanese society, being 年上の often grants a person the social right to speak in a less formal style, while the 'younger' person must use polite language.
In professional settings, a person's 'older' status is often measured by their year of entering a company, regardless of their actual biological age.
When talking about a sibling who is 'older', Japanese uses the specific terms 姉 for an older sister and 兄 for an older brother rather than just adding 年上の.

私より年上のわけが無い。
He can't be older than I am.
This sentence uses 年上の to express that someone cannot be older than the speaker.
Tatoeba #152180 by KK_kaku_, translation #1457219 by CK
トムは年上の女性と結婚した。
Tom married an older girl.
This sentence uses 年上の to describe a woman who is older.
Tatoeba #199843 by bunbuku, translation #37045 by mailohilohi
年上の女性が好みなんだよね？
You like older women, don't you?
This sentence uses 年上の to ask about a preference for older women.
Tatoeba #10680579 by small_snow, translation #2954576 by CK
彼女は私より年上です
She is older than me
彼女は高齢の女性です
She is an elderly woman
彼は私より年上だよ
He is older than me
彼女のお姉さん
Her older sister
8 more sentences on Tatoeba

Hiroto and Yui are talking about a new colleague.

大翔 Hiroto

新しく来た人は、僕より年上の人かな？
Atarashiku kita hito wa, boku yori toshiue no hito kana?
I wonder if the new person is older than me?
結衣 Yui

うん、大翔さんより年上だと思うよ。
Un, Hiroto-san yori toshiue da to omou yo.
Yeah, I think they are older than you, Hiroto.
大翔 Hiroto

そうなんだ。緊張するなあ。
Sou nanda. Kinjou suru naa.
I see. I'm getting nervous.
結衣 Yui

大丈夫だよ。優しい人そうだしね。
Daijoubu da yo. Yasashii hito sou dashi ne.
It'll be fine. They seem like a kind person.

Sources

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