你多大了？
nǐ duō dà le?
How old are you
你多大了？ (nǐ duō dà le) is a common and natural way to ask someone's age in Mandarin Chinese, typically used when speaking to peers or people younger than yourself. It is considered normal small talk in China and is not rude.
What does 你多大了？ (nǐ duō dà le?) mean?
你多大了？ (nǐ duō dà le?) means “how old are you” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “you how old (already)?”
When to use it
Neutral. When asking an elder's age, use 您多大年纪 (nín duō dà niánjì) for politeness. For children, you can also ask 你几岁了？ (nǐ jǐ suì le?), meaning “How many years old are you?”
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “nee dwor DAH luh.” The tones are falling-rising, falling, neutral.
Other ways to say it
- 您多大了？nín duō dà le?How old are you? (polite, for elders)
- 你几岁了？nǐ jǐ suì le?How old are you? (for children)
- 请问您多大岁数了？qǐngwèn nín duō dà suìshu le?May I ask your esteemed age? (very formal, for much older people)
Examples
你多大了？我今年二十岁。
nǐ duō dà le? wǒ jīnnián èrshí suì.
How old are you? I am twenty years old this year.
小妹妹，你多大了？
xiǎo mèimei, nǐ duō dà le?
Little sister, how old are you?
他看起来很年轻，你觉得他多大了？
tā kànqǐlái hěn niánqīng, nǐ juéde tā duō dà le?
He looks very young, how old do you think he is?
Pro tip: Asking someone's age with 你多大了？ is normal small talk in China and not considered impolite, unlike in some Western cultures. However, always use 您多大年纪？ for elders.
Related phrases
我是美国人 · I'm american你住在哪里？ · Where do you live你做什么工作？ · What do you do for work
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