나이
nai[na̠i]
The Korean phrase for "your age" is 나이 (nai).
나이 is the noun used to refer to the number of years a person has lived.
Which one should you use?
나이 is the standard word for age used in casual or neutral contexts. In contrast, you should use 연세 when referring to the age of an elder or someone of much higher social status.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
When referring to the age of an elder or someone of much higher social status, use 연세 instead of 나이.
How does it change in a sentence?
나이 is a noun that does not change its form based on whether the age is singular or plural.
How do you pronounce it?
nai
When do people say it?
When asking someone's age, it is more polite to use the phrasing 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (How much is your age?) which utilizes the verb 되다 (to become/to be) rather than asking the question directly.
Did you know?
- Until June 2023, South Korea used a traditional age system where a person was one year old at birth and aged another year every New Year's Day, regardless of their actual birthday.
- Asking someone's 나이 is often the first priority in a new Korean friendship because it determines which level of politeness and which specific titles must be used in conversation.
- The word 나이 is etymologically linked to the verb 낳다, which means 'to give birth'. This suggests a linguistic connection between the concept of 'age' and the act of bringing new life into the world.
Examples in context
- 우린 너랑 비슷한 나이야.We're about your age.This sentence shows how to use 나이 to say someone is about the same age as you.Tatoeba #13755034 by qlTmalffk, translation #6874263 by CK
- 나이가 어떻게 되세요?na-i-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?May I ask what your age is?
Example conversation
Jihoon and Minji are meeting for the first time at a social gathering.
- 지훈 Ji-hun민지 씨, 혹시 나이가 어떻게 되세요?Min-ji ssi, hok-si na-i-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?Minji, may I ask how old you are?
- 민지 Min-ji저는 스물다섯 살이에요.jeo-neun seu-mul-da-seot sal-i-e-yo.I am twenty-five years old.
- 지훈 Ji-hun아, 저랑 나이가 비슷하네요!a, jeo-rang na-i-ga bi-seut-ha-ne-yo!Oh, we are a similar age!
- 민지 Min-ji정말요? 반갑습니다, 지훈 씨.jeong-mal-yo? ban-gap-seum-ni-da, Ji-hun ssi.Really? Nice to meet you, Jihoon.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 나이, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 나이, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
