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The most common way to ask how old are you in Japanese is 何歳ですか (なんさいですか). A more polite version is おいくつですか. To answer, use number + 歳, like 二十五歳です. The biggest beginner trap is 二十歳, which means 20 years old but is read はたち, not a regular number-plus-sai form. This page also shows which version sounds more polite and how to answer naturally in a first-meeting conversation.
| Pattern | Japanese | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral standard | 何歳ですか。 | Common and clear in beginner conversations |
| More polite | おいくつですか。 | Politer and softer, useful with strangers or elders |
| About yourself | 二十五歳です。 | Simple answer pattern |
| Favourite safe follow-up | 学生ですか。 | Often smoother than age in some situations |
Age can be sensitive in real life. The grammar is easy, but the social context still matters.
| Age | Japanese | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 一歳 | いっさい |
| 2 | 二歳 | にさい |
| 3 | 三歳 | さんさい |
| 4 | 四歳 | よんさい |
| 5 | 五歳 | ごさい |
| 10 | 十歳 | じゅっさい |
| 18 | 十八歳 | じゅうはっさい |
| 20 | 二十歳 | はたち |
| 21 | 二十一歳 | にじゅういっさい |
| 25 | 二十五歳 | にじゅうごさい |
| 30 | 三十歳 | さんじゅっさい |
| English meaning | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I am 18 years old. | 十八歳です。 |
| I am 20 years old. | 二十歳です。 |
| My younger sister is 14. | 妹は十四歳です。 |
| How old is your brother? | お兄さんは何歳ですか。 |
For stronger beginner conversations, pair this page with Self-Introduction in Japanese and Japanese Numbers 1–1000.
The common pattern is 何歳ですか. A more polite version is おいくつですか.
Say 二十五歳です.
Japanese usually uses 歳, read さい in most age expressions.
Twenty years old is 二十歳, read はたち.
Yes. おいくつですか is the softer and more polite form.
Use Japanese numbers 1–100, self-introduction in Japanese, and nice to meet you in Japanese for a stronger beginner conversation set.
YoruLearn helps you review numbers, age phrases, and self-introduction patterns until they feel automatic in beginner Japanese.
Polite dialogue builder
Enter an age to make a simple, polite self-introduction dialogue. Notice the special reading for 20 years old: 二十歳（はたち）.
Culture note: おいくつですか is polite, but asking an adult stranger their age can still feel personal. Use it when the context makes the question relevant, or let the other person volunteer the information. Avoid the more direct 何歳ですか with customers or older adults.
Review the numbers in Japanese numbers 1–1000, then use the phrase in a self-introduction.
Practise useful conversations in YoruLearn