年齢 — meaning in English: age

nenrei · Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for age

年齢

nenrei

家族

kazoku

印刷

insatsu

ジャケット

jaketto

ワークショップ

wākushoppu

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neutral common

Usage

Native speakers use 年齢 (nenrei) in various contexts, such as during casual conversations about someone's birthday or when discussing age-related topics like retirement. For example, a parent might ask their child's friend, 'What is your 年齢?' when getting to know them better.

Synonyms & nuances

Another word for age is 年 (とし, toshi), but 年齢 (nenrei) is more specific and often used in official contexts or when discussing age in a legal or medical sense. Choosing 年齢 over 年 emphasizes the formal recognition of a person's age, particularly when context matters.

Culture

The term 年齢 (nenrei) not only refers to age in years but also reflects how age is perceived in Japanese culture. In Japan, age is often associated with social status and respect, particularly in formal situations where addressing someone's 年齢 can indicate their rank in a group. Interestingly, there's a custom called 'seijin shiki' (成人式) which celebrates coming of age at 20, a significant milestone in Japanese culture.

FAQ

Q.What does 年齢 mean in English?

The word 年齢 (nenrei) translates to 'age' in English, referring to the number of years someone has lived. It's commonly used in both casual and formal discussions.

Q.How do I ask someone's age in Japanese?

To ask someone's age in Japanese, you can say 'あなたの年齢は何ですか？' (Anata no nenrei wa nan desu ka?), which means 'What is your age?' This is a polite and neutral way to inquire.

Q.Is there a polite way to refer to someone's age?

Yes, when referring to someone else's age, it's courteous to use 年齢 (nenrei) instead of directly stating their age. You can also use expressions that show respect, like 'お年 (otoshi)' to refer to someone’s age more deferentially.

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