Translation guide
In Japanese, asking someone's age depends on the level of politeness and the relationship. The most common and neutral way is to ask '何歳ですか' (nansai desu ka), but for children or in casual settings, 'いくつ' (ikutsu) is used. For formal or polite situations, 'おいくつですか' (o-ikutsu desu ka) is preferred. When asking about a third person, the same patterns apply, but the honorific form 'お年' (o-toshi) can be used for extra politeness.
How old are you? (neutral)
How old are you? (polite)
The speaker wants to know the age of the listener or a third person in a face-to-face conversation.
The standard, neutral way to ask 'how old are you?' or 'how old is he/she?'. Can be used in most situations, but may be slightly direct with superiors.
A: How old are you? B: I'm 25.
Polite way to ask age, using the honorific prefix お. Suitable for adults, strangers, or in formal settings. Literally 'how many', but understood as age.
How old are you? (polite)
Casual, often used when asking children or in informal situations. Can be used alone as a question.
Means 'age is...?' and is very direct. Often used in forms or official contexts, not in casual conversation.
Age? (blunt, like on a form)
The speaker wants to ask about the age of someone not present, with respect.
Polite way to ask about someone else's age, using お年 (honorific for age). Suitable for asking about a friend's parent, etc.
How old is your mother? (polite)
Also works for third person, but less polite than お年. Use with caution when referring to someone of higher status.
How old is he?
The speaker needs to ask age with the highest level of respect, such as to a customer or superior.
Extremely polite, using honorific verb いらっしゃる. Used in service situations or when speaking to someone of very high status.
Sir/Madam, how old are you? (very polite)
In Japanese culture, asking age can be sensitive, especially to women or older people. It's often safer to use indirect questions or avoid the topic unless necessary. Using おいくつですか is generally safe for adults you've just met.
何歳 (なんさい) is the standard counter for age, while いくつ is the native Japanese counter. いくつ is more casual and often used for children. For adults, 何歳 is more common, but おいくつ adds politeness.
How old are you? (casual)