How to Say ‘How old are you turning?’ in Traditional Chinese
你要幾歲了？
nǐ yào jǐ suì le
[nee yao jee suì le]
💬 Usage Tip: 要 (yào) + 了 (le) here means "about to", which turns "how old are you" into "how old are you turning". Compare 你幾歲？ "how old are you?".
🇹🇼 In Taiwan: Asking a peer's age is fairly normal in Taiwan, since it helps settle who's older. With elders or superiors, people use the politer 您多大年紀？ instead.
Phrase Breakdown
你要
nǐ yào
you are going to
要 (yào) here means 'about to' or 'going to'.
你要走了嗎？
Are you about to leave?
Words in this phrase
你
nǐ
[nee]
you
The common singular word for you.
你今天很早。
You are early today.
要
yào
[yao]
want; need; going to
Can express desire, need, or future intention depending on context.
我要回家。
I want to go home.
幾歲了？
jǐ suì le
how old?
幾歲 (jǐ suì) asks someone's age. 了 (le) shows a new situation and is light in tone.
你弟弟幾歲了？
How old is your younger brother?
Words in this phrase
幾
jǐ
[jee]
how many
Used to ask about a small or unknown number.
你買了幾樣東西？
How many things did you buy?
歲
suì
[suì]
years old
Measure word for age.
我今年三十歲。
I'm thirty this year.
了
le
[le]
change-of-state particle
Marks a new situation, such as reaching a new age.
我弟弟十歲了。
My little brother is ten now.
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