岁数

• Pinyin: suì shu
• Hanzi breakdown: 岁 = year, age; 数 = number — the number of one's years, age

Meaning

Age; years of age. A colloquial term for how old someone is.

A casual way to refer to age, especially when discussing older people. More colloquial than 年龄. Common phrases: 上岁数了 (getting on in years), 岁数不小了 (not young anymore), 到了这个岁数 (at this age). Often implies the significance of age in life circumstances.

Examples

1. 他岁数虽大，但身体还很硬朗。 Though he's old, his body is still quite robust.
2. 到了这个岁数，很多事情都看开了。 At this age, I've come to terms with many things.
3. 别看她岁数不小了，跳舞还是很灵活。 Don't be fooled by her age; she's still very nimble when dancing.

Usage Guide

Context: conversation, age, family

Tone: colloquial

Do Say

• 您多大岁数了？(How old are you? — respectful)
• 岁数大了记性不好。(Memory gets worse with age.)

Don't Say

• 正式填表用'年龄'不用'岁数' (On formal forms, use 年龄 not 岁数 — 岁数 is colloquial)

Origin & History

Compound of 岁 (year, age) + 数 (number). Literally 'the number of years/age.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal