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What is the Kanji for 'Year' and 'Years old'? | 歳

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Year' and 'Years old', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Year' and 'Years old' is 歳.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Year, Years old

    Reading

    onyomiせい

    sei

    さい

    sai

    Parts

    Small Stop

    Example Word

    歳: years old. The Japanese suffix '歳 (さい)' is used to indicate age, specifically meaning 'years old'. It is attached to numbers to express someone's age. For example: I am 20 years old「私は20歳です」(わたしはにじゅっさいです). He is 5 years old「彼は5歳です」(かれはごさいです). This suffix is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing age. It is important to note that the pronunciation of '歳' can change depending on the number it follows, such as 'いっさい' for 1 year old, 'はたち' for 20 years old, and 'さい' for most other numbers.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    13

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    7

    Frequency

    585

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 3 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Small

    kanji

    Meaning

    Stop

    component

Words Using

This kanji is used in 5 words:

    word

    二十歳

    Meaning

    Twenty years old

    word

    Meaning

    Years old

    word

    お歳暮

    Meaning

    Year end gift

    word

    歳末

    Meaning

    Year end

    word

    万歳

    Meaning

    Hurrah, Long live

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 9 kanji contain the part 小 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thread

    kanji

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    Meaning

    Resemble, Resemblance

    kanji

    Meaning

    Capital

    kanji

    Meaning

    Prefecture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Purification, Observe religious abstinence

    kanji

    Meaning

    Still, Esteem

    kanji

    Meaning

    Show, Indicate

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 9 kanji contain the part 止 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Walk

    kanji

    Meaning

    Tooth

    kanji

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    Meaning

    Astringent, Not going smoothly

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plan, Project

    kanji

    Meaning

    Military

    kanji

    Meaning

    Correct

    kanji

    Meaning

    Blessedness, Welfare

    kanji

    Meaning

    Assent, Agreement

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 7 kanji contain the part 戈 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Some, How many

    kanji

    Meaning

    Self, Ego

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fight, War

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fell, Cut down

    kanji

    Meaning

    Play, Frolic

    kanji

    Meaning

    Admonish, Commandment

    kanji

    Meaning

    Capital, Suburbs of capital

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 歳 mean?

歳 means 'Year' and 'Years old'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Junior Highschool, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.

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