Learn the question "How old are you?" in Japanese and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Janet: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Japanese learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native speaker. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Janet: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “How old are you?” In Japanese this is |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| Janet: The first word in the question is |
| Kaori: 何歳(なんさい nansai) |
| Janet: meaning something like “how old” in English. It literally means ‘how many years.’ |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 何歳 (なんさい nansai) |
| Janet: Listen again and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何歳 (なんさい nansai) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Kaori: です (desu) |
| Janet: sentence ending particle |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何歳 です (なんさい です Nansai desu) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: And after that |
| Kaori: か (ka) |
| Janet: question marking particle. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) か (ka) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: か (ka) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Kaori: 何歳 です か (なんさい です か Nansai desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question “How old are you?” |
| Kaori: 18歳です。 (じゅうはっさいです。 Juuhassai desu.) |
| Janet: "I'm 18 years old.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Kaori: (Slow) 18歳です。 (じゅうはっさいです。 Juuhassai desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: Asking women their ages might be considered rude in Japan, just like in other countries. Please use this question only if necessary. |
| Janet: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Kaori: 18歳 (じゅうはっさい juuhassai) |
| Janet: means 18 years old. |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) 18歳 (じゅうはっさい juuhassai) |
| Janet: Now repeat |
| Kaori: 18歳 (じゅうはっさい juuhassai) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: And next |
| Kaori: です (desu) |
| Janet: sentence ending particle |
| Kaori: (Slow, by syllable) です (desu) |
| Janet: Now repeat. |
| Kaori: です (desu) |
| {Pause} |
| Janet: Listen to the speaker say, ‘I'm 18 years old.’ and then repeat. |
| Kaori: 18歳です。 (じゅうはっさいです。 juuhassai desu.) |
| {pause} |
| Janet: To expand on the pattern, replace ‘18 years old’ with ‘25 years old.’ |
| Kaori: 25歳 (にじゅうごさい nijuugo sai) |
| Janet: 25 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 25歳(にじゅうごさい nijuugo sai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 25歳(にじゅうごさい nijuugo sai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with ‘25 years old’ |
| Kaori: 25歳です。(にじゅうごさいです。 Nijuugo sai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace ‘18 years old’. Say ‘I'm 25 years old.’ |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 25歳です。 (にじゅうごさいです。 Nijuugo sai desu.) |
| Janet: To use a different phrase, replace ‘25 years old’ with ‘47 years old.’ |
| Kaori: 47歳 (よんじゅうななさい yonjuunana sai) |
| Janet: 47 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 47歳(よんじゅうななさい yonjuunana sai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 47歳(よんじゅうななさい yonjuunana sai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with ‘47 years old’ |
| Kaori: 47歳です。(よんじゅうななさいです。 Yonjuunana sai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace ‘25 years old’ with ‘47 years old.’ Say ‘I'm 47 years old.’ |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 47歳です。 (よんじゅうななさいです。 Yonjuunanasai desu.) |
| Janet: To expand on the pattern, replace ‘47 years old’ with ‘60 years old.’ |
| Kaori: 60歳 |
| (ろくじゅっさい rokujussai) |
| Janet: 60 years old |
| Kaori: (slow) 60歳(ろくじゅっさい rokujussai) |
| Kaori: (regular) 60歳(ろくじゅっさい rokujussai) |
| Janet: Listen to the phrase again, this time with ‘60 years old’ |
| Kaori: 60歳です。 (ろくじゅっさいです。 Rokujussai desu.) |
| Janet: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace ‘47 years old’ with ‘60 years old’. Say ‘I'm 60 years old.’ |
| {pause} |
| Kaori: 60歳です。(ろくじゅっさいです Rokujussai desu.) |
| QUIZ |
| Janet: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Japan and someone asks you how old you are. You are 18 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 18歳です。(じゅうはっさいです。 Juuhassai desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine you are 25 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 25歳です。(にじゅうごさいです。 Nijuugosai desu.) |
| Janet: Now imagine you are 47 years old. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 47歳です。(よんじゅうななさいです。 Yonjuunanasai desu.) |
| Janet: Imagine you're 60 years old. Respond to the question. |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| (five seconds) |
| Kaori: 60歳です。(ろくじゅっさいです。 Rokujussai desu.) |
| Janet: You want to ask someone how old they are. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Kaori: 何歳ですか。(なんさいですか。 Nansai desu ka.) |
| {pause} |
Outro |
| Janet: This is the end of Lesson 11 |
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