年をとっている
toshi o totte iru
The phrase "someone is old" in Japanese is translated as 年をとっている (toshi o totte iru).
The phrase 年をとっている is used to describe a person who has lived for many years. For the general process of aging or growing old, you can use the base form 年をとる. If you wish to refer to an elderly person or someone advanced in age using more formal terms, you might use 年配者, 高齢者 or 年輩の方. To describe older individuals or respected seniors, the term 年長者 is appropriate.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, 年をとっている means "is taking years". It is composed of 年 (year), を (object marker) and とっている (the continuous form of to take).
Which one should you use?
The phrase 年をとっている is a verb phrase describing the state of being old, whereas 年寄り is a noun used to refer to an elderly person. Additionally, while 年をとっている describes a current state, the past tense form 年をとった can be used to describe the action of having aged.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form 年をとっている is casual. To make it polite for use with strangers or superiors, change the ending to 年をとっています. For formal contexts, specialized nouns like 年配者, 高齢者, 年輩の方 or 年長者 are used to refer to the elderly or seniors.
How do you pronounce it?
toshi o totte iru
Did you know?
- The word 熟年 describes older adults using the kanji for 'ripe'. It frames aging not as a decline but as reaching a peak of maturity and stability.
- In Japan, using 年をとっている to describe someone's age can be seen as blunt or rude. People often use vague phrases like お若く見えます meaning 'you look young' to avoid mentioning age entirely.
- A person's status as an 'elderly person' is legally categorized in Japan by the government using the term 高齢者, which specifically denotes those 65 or older.
Examples in context
- あの人はとても年をとっている。Ano hito wa totemo toshi o totte iru.That person is very old.
- 父は少し年をとっている。Chichi wa sukoshi toshi o totte iru.My father is a bit old.
- 彼はもう年をとっているね。Kare wa mou toshi o totte iru ne.He is old already, isn't he?
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are talking about their neighbors.
- 蓮 Ren隣に住んでいる人は年をとっているね。Tonari ni sunde iru hito wa toshi o totte iru ne.The person living next door is old, isn't he?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、とても優しいおじいさんだよ。Un, totemo yasashii ojiisan da yo.Yes, he is a very kind old man.
- 蓮 Renいつからここに住んでいるのかな。Itsu kara koko ni sunde iru no kana.I wonder how long he's been living here.
- 陽葵 Himariずっと前から住んでいると思うよ。Zutto mae kara sunde iru to omou yo.I think he's lived here for a very long time.
