Translation guide
The English word "age" can refer to the number of years someone has lived, a period of life, the state of being old, or a historical period. Japanese uses different words and expressions depending on the context.
Asking or stating how old someone or something is.
Formal term for age, used in official contexts, documents, and polite conversation.
年齢を教えてください。
Please tell me your age.
Counter for age, attached to numbers. Use 歳 (さい) for most ages, but note sound changes like いっさい for 1, はっさい for 8, じゅっさい/じっさい for 10.
私は25歳です。
I am 25 years old.
Casual way to ask age, literally 'how many'. Common in everyday conversation.
Polite version of いくつ, used when asking someone's age respectfully.
失礼ですが、おいくつですか？
Excuse me, but how old are you?
Can mean 'age' in certain expressions, like 年の割に (for one's age).
Referring to a stage in life, such as childhood, middle age, or old age.
Describing the state of being old, or the process of aging.
Refers to old age or the process of aging, often used in literary or reflective contexts.
Referring to a distinct period in history, like the Stone Age or the Edo period.
Era, period, age. Used for historical periods like 江戸時代 (Edo period) or 石器時代 (Stone Age).
The age at which one is legally considered an adult.
When asking someone's age, using 年齢 (ねんれい) can sound too formal or clinical. In casual settings, use いくつ or 何歳 (なんさい). For polite situations, おいくつ is safer.
The counter 歳 (さい) changes pronunciation for certain numbers: 1歳 = いっさい, 8歳 = はっさい, 10歳 = じゅっさい/じっさい, 20歳 = はたち (irregular).
彼女は年齢より若く見える。
She doesn't look her age.
How old is your child?
You look young for your age.
Used in compounds like 年齢層 (age group) or 年齢期 (age period).
このゲームはすべての年齢層に適しています。
This game is suitable for all age groups.
Refers to a decade of life or a generation, like 20代 (twenties) or 30代 (thirties).
彼は40代です。
He is in his forties.
Generation, often used to talk about age cohorts like 若い世代 (younger generation).
若い世代の考え方は違う。
The younger generation thinks differently.
老いを感じる。
I feel my age.
Aging, especially in a biological or medical sense.
老化を防ぐ方法はありますか？
Is there a way to prevent aging?
Elderly person; can be blunt, so use with care. More polite is お年寄り.
年寄りに席を譲る。
Give up your seat for the elderly.
Advanced age, used in formal contexts like 高齢者 (elderly person).
高齢化社会の問題。
Problems of an aging society.
これは江戸時代の建物です。
This is a building from the Edo period.
Can also mean 'age' as in a generation, like the space age.
宇宙時代の到来。
The arrival of the space age.
Adult; coming of age. 成人年齢 is the legal age of adulthood (18 in Japan since 2022).
日本では18歳で成人になります。
In Japan, you become an adult at 18.