Processing keyword: いくつ～ (ikutsu~

Japanese Grammar Point: いくつ～ (ikutsu~

1. Introduction

The grammar point いくつ (ikutsu) is an interrogative expression in Japanese used to ask "how many" or "how old". It's a fundamental question word that's essential for everyday conversations, especially when inquiring about quantities or someone's age.

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2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning

• いくつ (ikutsu): How many; How old

Usage

1. Asking about Quantity: When you want to know the number of items or things.
2. Asking about Age: When you want to know someone's age (typically for children).

Structure

Formation Diagram

For Quantity:

いくつ + [Verb Phrase / Noun] ですか。

For Age:

[name/person] は いくつ ですか。

Detailed Explanation

• Quantity Inquiry: Use いくつ directly to ask "How many [items]" without needing a counter.
  • Example: 卵はいくつありますか。
    • Translation: "How many eggs are there?"
• Age Inquiry: Use いくつ to ask about someone's age, mainly for children. For adults, it's more polite to use おいくつ or 何歳 (なんさい).
  • Example: 妹はいくつですか。
    • Translation: "How old is your younger sister?"

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3. Comparative Analysis

Similar Grammar Points

Grammar Point	Usage	Example
何人 (なんにん)	Asking "how many people"	パーティーに何人来ますか。 "How many people are coming to the party?"
何歳 (なんさい)	Asking someone's age (general)	田中さんは何歳ですか。 "How old is Tanaka-san?"
おいくつ	Polite way to ask age	失礼ですが、おいくつですか。 "Excuse me, but how old are you?"

• Differences:
  • いくつ is more general and can replace specific counters in casual speech.
  • 何人 is specific to counting people.
  • 何歳 is used for age but can be less polite than おいくつ.

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4. Examples in Context

Example Sentences

1. Quantity
   • 英語: How many apples did you buy?
   • 日本語: りんごをいくつ買いましたか。
   • Explanation: Asking about the number of apples purchased.
2. Age (Children)
   • 英語: How old is your son?
   • 日本語: 息子さんはいくつですか。
   • Explanation: Inquiring about the son's age.
3. Politeness (Adults)
   • 英語: May I ask how old you are?
   • 日本語: 失礼ですが、おいくつですか。
   • Explanation: Politely asking someone's age.
4. Casual Conversation
   • 英語: How many cookies can I eat?
   • 日本語: クッキーはいくつ食べてもいい？
   • Explanation: Asking permission for the number of cookies one can eat.
5. Without Specific Counters
   • 英語: How many did you make?
   • 日本語: いくつ作りましたか。
   • Explanation: General inquiry without specifying the item.

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5. Cultural Notes

Levels of Politeness

• いくつ vs. おいくつ:
  • いくつ is casual and used with children or among peers.
  • おいくつ is the polite form used when asking adults or in formal situations.

Age Sensitivity

• In Japanese culture, asking an adult's age can be sensitive. It's important to use polite forms and contextually appropriate language.

Idiomatic Expressions

• いくつになっても: No matter how old one gets.
  • Example: いくつになっても勉強は大切です。
    • "No matter how old you get, studying is important."

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6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Common Mistakes

1. Using いくつ for People Count: Students might mistakenly use いくつ to count people instead of 何人 (なんにん).
   • Incorrect: パーティーにいくつ来ますか。
   • Correct: パーティーに何人来ますか。
2. Politeness Levels: Using いくつ when おいくつ is appropriate can be impolite.
   • Incorrect: 社長はいくつですか。
   • Correct: 社長はおいくつですか。

Tips

• Mnemonic for Quantity: Think of いくつ as "items (い) and counts (くつ)".
• Age Politeness: Remember to add お for politeness when asking adults: おいくつ.

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7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

• いくつ is used to ask "how many" or "how old" (mainly for children).
• Use おいくつ or 何歳 when asking an adult's age.
• Be mindful of context and politeness levels.

Quick Recap Quiz

1. Fill in the Blank: 兄弟は________ですか。
   • Answer: いくつ
2. Choose the Correct Polite Form: How would you politely ask a client their age?
   • a) あなたはいくつですか。
   • b) お客様はおいくつですか。
   • Answer: b) お客様はおいくつですか。
3. True or False: It's acceptable to use いくつ to count people in formal situations.
   • Answer: False

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We hope this explanation clarified the usage of いくつ. Practice using it in your daily conversations to become more comfortable with its applications.

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