【Basic Japanese Sentence: Self introduction】Let’s learn how to ask how old somebody is.

Basic sentence
2016.12.21
Basic sentenceSelf introduction
numberquestionSelf introduction
この記事は約2分で読めます。
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Sentence pattern

【Example】Asking how old somebody is
EnglishHow old are you?
Kanaなんさい　です　か。
Kana + Kanji何才　です　か。
Romaji (with space)na n sa i / de su / ka
Romajinansai desu ka
Kanji characters in yellow are Basic 200 Kanji. Make sure you can write them.
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Vocabulary

EnglishKanaKanjiRomaji (with space)Romaji
how oldなんさい何才na n sa inansai
isですde sudesu
?かkaka
Kanji characters in yellow are Basic 200 Kanji. Make sure you can write them.
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Note

Generally speaking, it is not polite to ask how old somebody is in Japan.

Women usually do not like that kind of question.

However, people in Osaka often do not mind it.

おいくつですか

何さいですか。 is a simple but very direct way to ask how old somebody is.

Instead, people in Japan would say おいくつですか。 more often.

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Revision quiz

Task 1: Change into Japanese.

  • How old are you?

Kana and Kanji: 何才ですか。

Romaji: na n sa i de su ka

Task 2: Change into English.

  1. 何さいですか。
  2. おいくつですか。
  1. How old are you?
  2. How old are you? (politer way)

Task 3: Listen to answer what you hear in English.

How old are you?

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