Grammar reference
多大 / 几岁 + Number + 岁
Asking age: 多大 and 几岁
你多大? (How old are you?) is the general, polite-enough question for adults and teens. 你几岁? uses 几 (expects a small number) and is typically used for young children. Note there's no verb 'to be' needed — age is stated directly with a number + 岁 (suì, 'years old'): 我今年二十岁 (I'm twenty this year). For very young children, ages under 10 sometimes drop 岁 informally, but at HSK 1 it's safest to always include 岁.
Examples
- 你今年多大？nǐ jīn nián duō dà
How old are you this year?
- 我二十五岁。wǒ èr shí wǔ suì
I'm twenty-five.
- 你女儿几岁了？nǐ nǚ ér jǐ suì le
How old is your daughter?
Common mistake
✗ Wrong: 我是二十五岁。
✓ Right: 我二十五岁。
Age sentences don't use 是 — a number + 岁 directly follows the subject, no linking verb needed.
Practice this pattern
Fill in the missing character:
你今年＿大？
How old are you this year?