How to Say Your Age in Chinese
Learning how to say your age in Chinese can be a useful skill, whether you are visiting China, have Chinese friends, or simply want to impress others with your language abilities. In this article, we will guide you through the various ways to express your age in Chinese, along with some helpful tips and common FAQs.
1. Basic Phrases:
To say your age in Chinese, you can start with the simple phrase “I am [age] years old.” Here’s how to say it:
– Wǒ [age] suì. (我 [age] 岁。)
For example, if you are 25 years old, you would say “Wǒ èrshíwǔ suì” (我二十五岁。)
2. Counting Age:
Unlike Western cultures, the Chinese consider a newborn ba to be one year old at birth. They add an additional year to a person’s age during the Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, which usually falls between January and February. To count your age in Chinese, follow these steps:
– Determine your Western age.
– Add one year if you haven’t celebrated the Chinese New Year yet.
– Use the appropriate Chinese number to express your age.
3. Chinese Numbers:
To say your age in Chinese, you need to be familiar with the Chinese number system. Here are the numbers from one to ten:
– 1 – Yī (一)
– 2 – Èr (二)
– 3 – Sān (三)
– 4 – Sì (四)
– 5 – Wǔ (五)
– 6 – Liù (六)
– 7 – Qī (七)
– 8 – Bā (八)
– 9 – Jiǔ (九)
– 10 – Shí (十)
4. FAQs:
Q: How do I ask someone their age in Chinese?
A: To ask someone their age, use the phrase “Nǐ jǐ suì?” (你几岁？). It translates to “How old are you?”
Q: How do I respond to someone asking my age?
A: You can simply answer saying “Wǒ [age] suì” (我 [age] 岁). For example, if you are 30 years old, you would say “Wǒ sānshí suì” (我三十岁).
Q: Are there any exceptions to counting age in Chinese?
A: Yes, there are exceptions. For babies under one year old, you can use the phrase “Yī suì yòu” (一岁又) followed the number of months. For example, “Yī suì yòu sān ge yuè” (一岁又三个月) means “one year and three months old.”
Q: Can you explain how the Chinese New Year affects age counting?
A: If you haven’t celebrated the Chinese New Year, you are considered one year younger than your Western age. For example, if you are 25 years old in the Western system and haven’t celebrated the Chinese New Year, you would say “Wǒ èrshísuì” (我二十岁).
Q: Are there any other ways to ask someone’s age in Chinese?
A: Yes, you can also use the phrase “Nǐ duōdà le?” (你多大了？) which is more casual and translates to “How old are you?”
In conclusion, learning how to say your age in Chinese is a valuable skill that can help you communicate with Chinese speakers and deepen your understanding of the language. Remember to consider the Chinese New Year and the cultural differences in age counting. Practice these phrases and engage in conversations with native speakers to improve your language skills.