age; years (of a person)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
age; years (of a person)
informalA colloquial term for a person's age, often implying respect for older age. The diminutive suffix '儿' (suì shur) is often used in northern dialects. Can be preceded by question words like '多大', '什么', or measure words like '上'. Also used in phrases like '上了岁数' meaning 'advanced in years'.
Mā妈
shì是
shàng上
le了
suì岁
shu数
le的
de人
rén了
。
Mom is someone who's getting on in years.
Tā他
jīn今
nián年
duō多
dà大
suì岁
shu数
le了
？
How old is he this year?
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Bié别
kàn看
wǒ我
yé爷
ye爷
yī一
bǎ把
suì岁
shu数
le了
，
shēn身
tǐ体
hái还
yìng硬
lang朗
zhe着
ne呢
。
Don't be fooled by my grandpa's advanced age, he's still in good health.
Dào到
le了
tā他
zhè这
ge个
suì岁
shu数
，
gāi该
kǎo考
lǜ虑
tuì退
xiū休
le了
。
At his age, it's time to think about retirement.
Xiǎo小
hái孩
zi子
bié别
dǎ打
ting听
dà大
rén人
de的
suì岁
shu数
，
bù不
lǐ礼
mào貌
。
Children shouldn't ask about adults' ages; it's impolite.