二十歳(はたち)

二十歳(はたち) is a special native Japanese reading for 'twenty years old.' It is an irregular reading — the regular Sino-Japanese form would be 二十(にじゅう)歳(さい).

Special age readings

Japanese has very few special age words. 二十歳(はたち) is the most common. The regular counter pattern ～歳(さい) is used for all other ages.

Cultural note

• Traditional age of adulthood in Japan
• 成人式(せいじんしき) (Coming of Age ceremony) is held for those turning 20
• Note: The legal adult age changed to 18 in April 2022, but 成人式(せいじんしき) is often still celebrated at 20

Common patterns

• 二十歳(はたち)になる: to turn twenty
• 二十歳(はたち)の記念(きねん): twentieth birthday commemoration