For students preparing for HSK exams, asking "How old are you?" seems simple. However, using the wrong phrase with the wrong person is a major cultural faux pas.
In the HSK Listening exam (Levels 2-4), understanding how a question is asked helps you identify the relationship between speakers (e.g., Are they talking to a grandfather or a child?). Let's explore the essential elements you need to know to navigate age-related conversations confidently.
1. The Three Levels of Asking Age
Unlike English, Chinese has strict hierarchies. You cannot use the same sentence for a toddler and a grandmother.
A. For Children (Under 10): 你几岁？(Nǐ jǐ suì?)
- Vocabulary: 几 (jǐ) indicates a small number (usually under 10).
- HSK Hint: If you hear "jǐ suì" in a listening dialogue, the answer will almost certainly be a single-digit number.
B. For Peers/Adults: 你多大了？(Nǐ duō dà le?)
- Vocabulary: 多大 (duō dà) means "how big/how old."
- Usage: This is the standard phrase for friends, colleagues, and general acquaintances.
C. For Elders: 您多大年纪？(Nín duō dà niánjì?)
- Vocabulary: 年纪 (niánjì) means "age" in a formal sense.
- Honorific: Always use 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ).
- Advanced (HSK 5/6): 您高寿？(Nín gāo shòu?) - "What is your longevity?" This is extremely respectful and often used for people over 70.
HSK Vocabulary for Age-Related Discussions
Beyond the questions, you need the vocabulary to understand the answers. To talk about age, you must first master your numbers. Review our Essential Chinese Numbers Guide if you are still shaky on 1-100.
- 岁 (suì): Year of age (HSK 1)
- Grammar Note: You do not use "Shì" (is) when stating age.
- Wrong: 我是二十岁 (Wǒ shì èrshí suì).
- Right: 我二十岁 (Wǒ èrshí suì) - Lit: "I twenty years old."
- 生日 (shēngrì): Birthday (HSK 2)
- 长辈 (zhǎngbèi): Elder / Senior generation (HSK 5)
- Usage: Often appears in texts about filial piety.
- 同龄人 (tónglíngrén): Peer / Someone of the same age (HSK 6)
Cultural Nuances: The Indirect Inquiry (Zodiac)
In Chinese culture, asking an adult (especially a woman) directly about their age can sometimes be considered impolite. The "Cultural Hack" is to ask for their Zodiac Animal (生肖 - Shēngxiào).
By knowing their animal, you can calculate their age instantly without forcing them to say the number.
- Question: 你属什么？(Nǐ shǔ shénme?) - What do you belong to? (Meaning: What is your animal sign?)
- Answer: 我属龙。(Wǒ shǔ lóng.) - I belong to the Dragon.
If you don't know your animal yet, find it in our guide on Chinese Zodiac vs. Western Zodiac.
Grammar Structures for HSK Preparation
Mastering the grammatical structures used in comparisons is essential for HSK Level 3.
Comparing Ages:
- Structure: A + 比 (bǐ) + B + 大/小 (dà/xiǎo) + [Number] + 岁
- Example: 我比他大两岁。(Wǒ bǐ tā dà liǎng suì.)
- Translation: I am two years older than him.
Be careful not to say "I am bigger than him" (height/size). In the context of age, 大 (Big) implies "Old."
Practical Dialogues for HSK Practice
Notice the shift in tone between these two examples:
Dialogue 1: Casual (Peers)
A: 小王，你多大了？ (Xiǎo Wáng, nǐ duō dà le?) B: 我二十五岁。你呢？ (Wǒ èrshíwǔ suì. Nǐ ne?) A: 我比你小两岁。 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ xiǎo liǎng suì.)
Dialogue 2: Formal (Student to Teacher)
Student: 李老师，您的生日是几月几号？ (Lǐ lǎoshī, nín de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào?) Teacher: 我的生日是五月十五号。 Note: Addressing a teacher requires the vocabulary of respect. See more on this in our guide to Mastering Chinese Greetings.
Conclusion
Mastering age-related questions helps you navigate social hierarchies in China. It connects deeply to how you address family members, where hierarchy is everything (e.g., Big Brother vs. Second Sister). Review the rules of Family Relationship Vocabulary to see this in action.
Remember:
- Use Jǐ for kids.
- Use Duō dà for adults.
- Use Nín for elders.
Continue practicing these distinctions, and you will breeze through the "Dialogues" section of your HSK exam! 加油 (Jiāyóu)!