Korean · People & Family
"Age" in Korean: 나이
나이nai
Age in Korean is 나이 (nai). 나이 is age; 연세 is a respectful alternative when asking about an older person.
An everyday statement
나이가 어떻게 되세요?naiga eotteoke doeseyo?
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How to pronounce 나이
Say it
nai
/nai/
나이 (nai) has 2 Hangul syllables. 나이 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
"Age" in Korean: quick reference
| Korean | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 나이nai | Age Basic dictionary noun. | Basic dictionary noun. |
| 나이가 들다naiga deulda | grow older A useful combination with 나이. | A useful combination with 나이. |
| 나이를naireul | Age (as an object) Use 를 when 나이 is the object of an action. | Use 를 when 나이 is the object of an action. |
How to use 나이 in real life
- 1An everyday statement
나이가 어떻게 되세요?
naiga eotteoke doeseyo?
How old are you?
This sentence uses 나이 in the age sense.
- 2A different situation
나이가 들면서 생각이 달라졌어요.
naiga deulmyeonseo saenggagi dallajyeosseoyo.
My thinking changed as I grew older.
This sentence uses 나이 in the age sense.
- 3A useful question or update
나이를 물어봐도 될까요?
naireul mureobwado doelkkayo?
May I ask your age?
This sentence uses 나이 in the age sense.
Mistakes English speakers make with 나이
Incorrect: 나이이 어떻게 되세요?
Correct: 나이가 어떻게 되세요?
When practicing age, use the correct particle or copula after 나이; the final sound determines whether a linking consonant is needed.
Incorrect: 나이이에요.
Correct: 나이예요.
When practicing age, when identifying something as 나이, use 나이예요. The vowel-final noun takes 예요 directly.
Good to know
나이 is age; 연세 is a respectful alternative when asking about an older person. The combination 나이가 들다 (naiga deulda) means grow older.
Read this practice conversation aloud
Tutor-led people and family study exercise: two sentences with 나이
Partner
이 표현을 사용해서 한 문장 말해 볼까요?
i pyohyeoneul sayonghaeseo han munjang malhae bolkkayo?
Shall we say a sentence using this expression?
You
나이가 어떻게 되세요?
naiga eotteoke doeseyo?
How old are you?
Partner
좋아요. 다른 문장으로도 연습해 볼까요?
joayo. dareun munjangeurodo yeonseupae bolkkayo?
Good. Shall we practice with another sentence too?
You
나이가 들면서 생각이 달라졌어요.
naiga deulmyeonseo saenggagi dallajyeosseoyo.
My thinking changed as I grew older.
This is a sample dialogue for reading aloud. Try both parts, then replace a detail with one from your own life.
Explore ChatPal"Age" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Age" in Korean
What does 나이 mean in Korean?
Age in Korean is 나이 (nai). 나이 is age; 연세 is a respectful alternative when asking about an older person.
How do I use 나이가 들다?
나이가 들다 (naiga deulda) means grow older. 나이 is age; 연세 is a respectful alternative when asking about an older person.
Which object particle goes after 나이?
The object form is 나이를 because 나이 ends in a vowel.
How is 나이 pronounced?
나이 (nai) has 2 Hangul syllables. 나이 ends in a vowel; do not add a final English consonant.
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