何年生ですか
nannensei desu ka
The English phrase "what grade your in" is translated into Japanese as 何年生ですか (nannensei desu ka).
This phrase is used to ask a student which year of school they are currently attending, whether they are in elementary school, middle school, high school or university.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 何年生ですか is the standard polite way to ask this question. In casual situations, such as speaking between peers or toward children, you can drop the desu ka to use the informal version 何年生？
How do you pronounce it?
nannensei desu ka
Did you know?
- While 何年生 asks for the year, Japanese students often identify their grade by the school level first. For example, a tenth grader would specify they are a 'first year' 一年生 of high school to avoid confusion.
- In Japan, the school year begins in April rather than September. This means if you ask someone 何年生ですか in May, they are likely at the very beginning of their new academic cycle.
- The character 生 in 年生 can be read as 'sei' when counting years, but is read as 'nama' when referring to raw fish like 'sashimi'.
Examples in context
- 1年生1st grade
- 2年生2nd grade
- 3年生3rd grade
- 4年生4th grade
- 5年生5th grade
- 6年生6th grade
- 三年生ですI am in the 3rd grade
- 私は〇〇学年ですI am in [grade] grade
- 陽太さんは何年生ですか。Youta-san wa nannensei desu ka.What grade are you in, Youta?
- 妹は今、何年生ですか。Imouto wa ima, nannensei desu ka.What grade is your younger sister in now?
- あの子は何年生ですか。Ano ko wa nannensei desu ka.What grade is that child in?
Example conversation
Two neighbors are chatting about their children's school.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵さんの息子さんは何年生ですか。Himari-san no musuko-san wa nannensei desu ka.What grade is your son in, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himari小学三年生です。Shougaku sannen-sei desu.He is in third grade.
- 陽太 Yotaそうなんですね。Sou nan desu ne.I see.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、毎日とても元気ですよ。Hai, mainichi totemo genki desu yo.Yes, he is very energetic every day.
