🎂 Asking Someone’s Age Politely – Beginner Level (TOPIK 1–2)
🗓️ Asking Age Politely in Korean (나이·연세): One-Line Mastery
Want to ask someone’s age without sounding blunt? Use these polite, natural lines and avoid common traps.
By the end, you’ll know when to choose nai vs yeonse, how to answer smoothly, and what milestone ages mean in Korea.
이 글을 통해 나이와 연세의 차이, 자연스러운 질문·대답, 한국의 주요 연령 문화까지 간단히 익힙니다.
📑 Table of Contents
🎯 Learning Goals
- Ask age politely using 나이 vs 연세 correctly.
- Answer naturally with native numbers and polite endings.
- Recognize cultural cues (speech levels, milestone birthdays).
🧩 Core Content
Flow overview: Warm-up topic → indirect hint → polite question → soft follow-up → answer formats.
핵심 팁: 처음 만난 어른에게는 연세, 또래·친한 사이는 나이/몇 살이 자연스럽습니다.
🗣️ Essential Phrases (Top 10)
| Korean | RR | English |
|---|---|---|
| 나이가 어떻게 되세요? | naiga eotteoke doeseyo? | What’s your age? (polite, neutral) |
| 연세가 어떻게 되세요? | yeonsega eotteoke doeseyo? | What’s your age? (honorific for elders) |
| 실례지만 연세 여쭤봐도 될까요? | sillyejiman yeonse yeojjwobwado doelkkayo? | May I ask your age? (very polite) |
| 혹시 또래이신가요? | hoksi ttorae-isin-gayo? | Are we about the same age? (indirect) |
| 몇 살이에요? | myeot sarieyo? | How old are you? (casual / younger) |
| 태어난 해가 언제세요? | taeeonan haega eonjese-yo? | What year were you born? |
| 저는 스물다섯 살이에요. | jeoneun seumul-daseot sar-ieyo | I’m 25. |
| 올해 스물세 살이에요. | olhae seumul-se sar-ieyo | I turn 23 this year. |
| 연세가 일흔이세요. | yeonsega ilheun iseyo | (He/She) is 70 (honorific). |
| 말 편하게 놓을까요? | mal pyeonhage noheulkkayo? | Shall we speak casually? |
💬 Dialogue & Quick Quiz
At a language meetup
🧍♀️ A: 실례지만, 연세가 어떻게 되세요?
🧑✈️ B: 저는 예순다섯이에요.
🧍♀️ A: 아, 그러시군요. 말 편하게 해 주셔도 돼요.
EN: A politely asks age with honorific; B answers; A invites casual speech.
📝 Quick Quiz (open)
- Translate: “May I ask your age (politely)?” → ________.
- Fill in: “저는 올해 ___ 살이에요.”
Answers: 1) 연세 여쭤봐도 될까요? / 나이가 어떻게 되세요?; 2) 스물세(etc.)
❌ Common Mistakes
- 어른에게 ‘나이’ 사용 → Fix: ‘연세’를 쓰고 존댓말 유지.
- 살/세 혼동 → Fix: 일상 회화는 ‘살’, 공식 문맥은 ‘세’.
- 바로 질문 → Fix: 간접 질문이나 대화 흐름 후에 물어보기.
❓ FAQ
Is it rude to ask age in Korea?
It depends on context and tone; use honorifics with elders. 상황과 말투가 중요하며, 어르신께는 존댓말을 사용하세요.
“Korean age” vs international age?
Since 2023, the official standard is international age. 2023년부터 만 나이가 공식 기준입니다.
🌏 Did You Know?
- Milestones like 환갑(60) and 칠순(70) are culturally meaningful; see an overview at the Korea.net (Official).
- Age often sets speech level (존댓말/반말); the National Institute of Korean Language has honorific guides.
⚠️ Rules and customs evolve—confirm on official pages.
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