1.
eight years old
The age of eight; used to state someone's age in years. Also written 8歳 in numerals. Appears in questionnaires, forms, medical records, and everyday conversation.
娘は八歳です。
My daughter is eight years old.
八歳の誕生日を迎えた。
He celebrated his eighth birthday.
八歳から習い始めたピアノを今も続けている。
I started playing the piano at age eight and still continue with it today.
八歳といえば、日本では小学校二年生にあたる年齢だ。
Eight years old is the age of a second grader in elementary school in Japan.
Composed of 八 (eight) and the age counter 歳 (also written 才). The number 八 undergoes promotion to はっ before さい, producing the sokuon (small つ) pronunciation はっさい rather than はちさい.
USAGE:
Routine vocabulary for stating ages. The counter 歳 is used for human and animal ages; in casual writing and on children's products, the simpler 才 is often substituted. Ages are typically asked with 何歳ですか (How old are you?) or the politer おいくつですか. With the copula, one says 八歳だ・です.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 八歳になる: to turn eight
- 八歳の誕生日: eighth birthday
- 八歳の子供: an eight-year-old child
- 八歳から: from the age of eight
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 七歳: seven years old — the age before
- 九歳: nine years old — the age after
- 満八歳: fully eight years old (completed years) — used on official forms
- 数え八歳: eight by traditional counting — the older system where one is 1 at birth and gains a year at New Year