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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

    歳

    Meaning

    Year, Years old

    Reading

    onyomiせい

    sei

    さい

    sai

    Parts

    小Small 止Stop 戈

    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

    止

    Stroke Count

    13

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    7

    Frequency

    585

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji 歳

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

    kanji

    小

    Meaning

    Small

    kanji

    止

    Meaning

    Stop

    component

    戈

Words Using 歳

This kanji is used in 5 words:

    word

    二十歳

    Meaning

    Twenty years old

    word

    歳

    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 歳 Through the Part 小

These 9 kanji contain the part 小 as well.

    kanji

    少

    Meaning

    Few

    kanji

    糸

    Meaning

    Thread

    kanji

    賓

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    肖

    Meaning

    Resemble, Resemblance

    kanji

    京

    Meaning

    Capital

    kanji

    県

    Meaning

    Prefecture

    kanji

    斎

    Meaning

    Purification, Observe religious abstinence

    kanji

    尚

    Meaning

    Still, Esteem

    kanji

    示

    Meaning

    Show, Indicate

Kanji Related to 歳 Through the Part 止

These 9 kanji contain the part 止 as well.

    kanji

    歩

    Meaning

    Walk

    kanji

    歯

    Meaning

    Tooth

    kanji

    歴

    Meaning

    Curriculum, Continuation

    kanji

    渋

    Meaning

    Astringent, Not going smoothly

    kanji

    企

    Meaning

    Plan, Project

    kanji

    武

    Meaning

    Military

    kanji

    正

    Meaning

    Correct

    kanji

    祉

    Meaning

    Blessedness, Welfare

    kanji

    肯

    Meaning

    Assent, Agreement

Kanji Related to 歳 Through the Part 戈

These 7 kanji contain the part 戈 as well.

    kanji

    幾

    Meaning

    Some, How many

    kanji

    我

    Meaning

    Self, Ego

    kanji

    戦

    Meaning

    Fight, War

    kanji

    伐

    Meaning

    Fell, Cut down

    kanji

    戯

    Meaning

    Play, Frolic

    kanji

    戒

    Meaning

    Admonish, Commandment

    kanji

    畿

    Meaning

    Capital, Suburbs of capital

Learn the Kanji 歳

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.