Hi, is this formal? - Feed Post by denisenossi

• 
  mog86uk

  Depends what you mean by 'formal'. It uses polite level speech (using です), however it is also a very direct question. Because of how direct it is, I don't think it can be considered to be 'formal'. I doubt it is acceptable to blurt out 何歳ですか except towards people considerably younger than yourself or towards your close friends.
  
  It might be acceptable for young children to talk in this way, as they may not know any other way of asking it. However, children are probably taught not to go up to random adults and ask how old they are anyway. :P
  
  I guess a formal version used by adults to eachother would be something less direct... maybe something like:
  お歳を聞きしてもいいですか
  (おとしをききしてもいいですか)
  Which basically sounds like "If it is okay with you, may I ask you your age?", or more literally "Is it okay me asking your age?". Obviously, asking how old people are can come across as rude very easily, no matter how it is said. There needs to be a sensible polite reason to be asking it. ^^

  December 22, 2014 at 1:00am