seoi3歲岁
Jyutpingseoi3
Yaleseui
Definition
Years of age; a classifier used to measure a person's age.
neutralpeoplenumbers
How it's used
While 歲 is the standard unit for age, it is almost exclusively used for people. When talking about the age of objects or animals, Cantonese speakers often use 年 instead, or rephrase the sentence entirely to avoid a direct age unit.
Examples
He is already thirty years old this year.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use 歲 for inanimate objects like buildings or cars, but it sounds unnatural. Use 年 or describe how long something has existed instead.
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.
