数(かぞ)え年(どし)

かぞえどし

noun

traditional age counting; East Asian age reckoning

1. traditional age counting; East Asian age reckoning

A traditional system of counting age in which a person is one year old at birth and gains a year every New Year's Day, rather than on their birthday.

数(かぞ)え年(どし)では今年(ことし)三十歳(さんじゅっさい)だ。

In traditional age counting, I am thirty this year.

七五三(しちごさん)は数(かぞ)え年(どし)で祝(いわ)う家庭(かてい)もある。

Some families celebrate Shichi-Go-San based on traditional age counting.

昔(むかし)は数(かぞ)え年(どし)が一般的(いっぱんてき)だったが、今(いま)は満年齢(まんねんれい)が使(つか)われている。

In the past, traditional age counting was common, but now the Western system is used.

Under this system, a baby is considered one year old (一歳(いっさい)) at birth, and everyone becomes one year older on January 1st (originally based on the lunar new year). This means a person born on December 31st would be considered two years old on the following day.

Common collocations

数(かぞ)え年(どし)で: in traditional age counting
数(かぞ)え年(どし)の年齢(ねんれい): age by traditional reckoning
数(かぞ)え年(どし)で祝(いわ)う: to celebrate by traditional age

Similar words

満年齢(まんねんれい): Western-style age — counting from birthday to birthday, which is the standard system in modern Japan

Cultural note

Japan officially switched to the Western age system (満年齢(まんねんれい)) in 1950, but 数(かぞ)え年(どし) is still used for some traditional events like 厄年(やくどし) (unlucky years) and 還暦(かんれき) (60th birthday celebration).

Related Words

Compare: 満年齢(まんねんれい) (Western-style age)

general

Added 2026.4.6 2:03 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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