表达年龄 年齢を伝える biǎo dá nián líng

Japanese

In Japan, directly asking someone's age is generally considered impolite, especially in formal settings or when speaking to someone older than yourself. It’s better to rely on indirect questions or let the other person volunteer this information.

There is no direct translation for "How old are you?" which is why indirect expressions and contexts are preferred.

However, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask children their age.

Generally, it's preferable to let the other person disclose their age rather than asking directly, and this is especially true for people of older generations.