二十歳(はたち)

Pronunciation

はたち is a special native reading; the regular counter form 二十歳(にじゅっさい) also exists but is less common in speech. Other ages use the regular 〜歳(さい).

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
• The legal age of adulthood became 18 in April 2022 (the voting age had already dropped to 18 in 2016), but most towns still hold the ceremony at 20, and drinking and smoking are still legal only from 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