1.
how many
Used to ask about quantity, especially for items counted with the general counter つ.
2.
how old
Used to ask about someone's age, particularly for children or in casual contexts.
幾つ asks about quantity (how many?) or age (how old?). Often written in hiragana as いくつ.
SENSE 1 — QUANTITY:
Corresponds to the counter つ system (一つ, 二つ, etc.). Used for general counting of items.
SENSE 2 — AGE:
Commonly used for children. For adults, the polite form お幾つですか is appropriate.
- お子さんは幾つですか: How old is your child?
- お幾つですか: How old are you? (polite, for adults)
- 何歳ですか: How old are you? (direct alternative)
Forms
Related Words
Compare:
幾ら (how much (price))
Related:
つ (general native counter (1-9))
Compare:
どれぐらい (how much)