Meaning

Primary

Twenty Years Old

Word Type

noun

Explanation

Two times ten years old is twenty years old.

Since 〜歳 can be replaced with 〜才, 二十歳 can also be written 二十才. Either way, it still means you're officially an adult in Japan… even if you don't feel like one yet.

Reading

はたち
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

The reading for twenty years old, specifically, is a really weird reading. It's はたち. When you turn twenty years old you become a hater of cheese. A hater cheese (はたち) kinda person.

Context

Context Sentences

「僕は二十歳になる前に社長になるよ。」「そうだといいけどね。」

"I’ll be company president before I’m twenty years old." "I hope you’re right about that."

Kanji Composition