also: ねんし
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
age; years old
Refers to a person's age, often used in contexts emphasizing youth or inexperience. Commonly appears in the phrase 年端もいかない (underage, not yet of age).
年端もいかない子どもにそんな仕事は無理だ。
That kind of work is impossible for a child who is not yet of age.
彼は年端の割にしっかりしている。
He is mature for his age.
Alternate kanji spelling; also read ねんし, but としは is more common.
Rare reading restricted to this kanji form; としは is the usual reading.
Compound of 年 (とし, 'year') and 端 (は, 'edge, beginning'), literally 'the edge of years', implying the early stage of life or age. The kanji 歯 is an ateji substitution.