nin4 ling4年齡年龄
Jyutpingnin4 ling4
Yalenìhn lìhng
Definition
Age; the number of years a person has lived.
neutralpeopletime
How it's used
Refers specifically to the numerical value of a person's age rather than the stage of life. While it is standard in formal contexts like medical forms or official documents, native speakers often prefer using 幾多歲 when asking someone about their age in casual conversation. Using 年齡 in daily chat can sound slightly clinical or like an interview question.
Examples
Although he is old in age, he looks very young.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using it to describe someone's appearance or maturity level, as it strictly denotes the chronological number. For describing someone as old or young in a general sense, use 歲數 or simply describe their life stage.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
